PCB annual revenues plunge
LAHORE : Pakistan’s cricket chief on Monday proposed a limited over series against rivals India at neutral venues to overcome huge financial losses due to security problems in the country.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt said annual losses of 71 percent were incurred on television rights and other areas as teams refused to tour the country over security fears.
“We have been incurring 71 percent annual losses due to relocation and cancellation of cricket series in the country, and a limited over series against India can help us overcome these losses,” Butt told a press conference.
He said Pakistan had suffered a total loss of 125 million dollars since teams began refusing to tour the country in 2008.
“We lost some 40 million dollars due to the cancellation of the India series last year and this huge loss can only be covered if we play India, even on neutral venues,” said Butt.
New Delhi refused to clear a tour of their cricket team to Pakistan scheduled for earlier this year after the attacks on Mumbai.
“We have been forced to play our series away from home and I toured India last month to convince them to play us on neutral venues. If they agree we can arrange that,” said Butt.
The ICC is also considering India-Pakistan matches in England, where Pakistan have relocated a home Test series against Australia later this year.
Butt and other PCB officials attended an ICC task force meeting in Dubai on Sunday to discuss possible solutions for reviving cricket in Pakistan.
“We also request the ICC to form funds for us to help our domestic and junior cricket,” said Butt, also hoping Pakistan will be able to bid for the 2013 Champions Trophy.
“If the opportunity arises then we may bid for the Champions Trophy because we have a right to do so,” said Butt.
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PCB annual revenues plunge was first posted on December 7, 2009 at 9:26 pm.
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