Dubai-based broadcaster Ten Sports has "bagged rights for Pakistan's upcoming 'home' series against Australia and New Zealand for a reported fee" of $5.4M after two Indian companies "reportedly showed interest," according to the PTI. Sources in the board "aware of the developments" said that Ten Sports had initially bid $2.9M for the two series although the Pakistan Cricket Board had "kept a reserve price" of $8M. A source said, "Zahid Noorani, who appeared on behalf of the Dubai-based channel made it clear that since they were the only bidders for the rights they would not raise their offer leaving the PCB in a fix." The source added that the bid committee gave Noorani some time to "review his bid." He continued, "In the meantime, some PCB officials got in touch with two Indian companies, Nimbus and Sportysolutionz and convinced them to also send in bids for the broadcasting rights." He said that Sportysolutionz offered a bid of $4.8M while Nimbus later submitted a "written bid" of $5.1M. The source said, "It was due to these two bids from the Indian companies that the Dubai based channel was then told to raise its offer" (PTI, 9/21).