Bombshell as Supersport Loses Rights to Broadcast Indian Premier League

• The much-waited 2023 Indian Premier League is starting tomorrow afternoon
• For Sub-Saharan viewers of the glitzy and lucrative tournament, the wait was for nothing
• Broadcasting giant SuperSport dropped a bombshell to end all bombshells, announcing that it will not be broadcasting the competition

South African cricket fans are in for heartbreaking news.

The Indian Premier League will not be broadcast in the country as well as anywhere in Sub-Saharan Africa where it showed the tournament.

SuperSport said in a statement on Twitter and Facebook:

"SuperSport previously held broadcast rights to the IPL. Discussions with the rights holder have unfortunately been unsuccessful and SuperSport will therefore not broadcast the IPL as of this year’s edition."

There will be 16 South Africans participating in this year's event. They are:

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Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Rilee Rossouw (Delhi Capitals), David Wiese (Kolkata Knight Riders), Donovan Ferreira (Rajasthan Royals), Duan Jansen (Mumbai Indians), Sisanda Magala (Chennai Super Kings) Delhi Capitals: Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.

Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs (Mumbai Indians), Faf du Plessis (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Dwaine Pretorius (Chennai Super Kings), Quinton de Kock (Lucknow Super Giants), David Miller (Gujarat Titans), Kagiso Rabada (Punjab Kings), Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram (Sunrisers Hyderabad).

According to Sport24, a spokesperson for the broadcasting giant said:

"Commercial discussions with the rights holder for the next cycle of rights have unfortunately been unsuccessful and SuperSport will therefore not broadcast the IPL as of this year’s edition."

The news was met with shock and surprise on Facebook and Twitter.

Barry Savage said:

"...and so it begins... Multichoice's only real selling point (sport) wheels starting to come off. It's a matter of time. The start of the end."

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Johan Bruwer said:

"One really needs to ask whether dstv was too skimpy when coming to pay for the license. There is always soccer on the various sports channels and less other live broadcasts..."

Brandon Stephenson said:

"So what is the point of paying tv licences and crazy DSTV prices when we get to watch less and less"

Crixus Yasuke said:

"Excellent. IPL is a corruption league anyway. Does not benefit South Africans in any way"

More to follow...