Ehsan Mani calls Pak UAE series broadcast deal 'transparent' despite 'perceived anomalies'

Former ICC president Ehsan Mani has insisted that the broadcasting rights deal for Pakistan's home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in the UAE was transparent despite criticism on perceived anomalies during this process.

According to www.Pakpassion.net, Mani, who was elected to the position of ICC president in June 2003, has been involved in awarding of broadcasting rights on behalf of PCB since 1993 and he recently supervised the award of broadcasting rights for Pakistan's home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in the UAE.

Stating that his main role in this process was to chair the committee that was marketing the rights for the Sri Lanka and South Africa series, Mani dismissed allegations of any anomalies during the process, and said that the PCB appointed Ernst and Young who made sure that the whole process was transparent.

According to Mani, they did not favour any party and gave the same information to every party who was bidding, adding that the same letters and same documents went out to all the bidders.

Mani also stressed that in the entire process, the PCB chairman was completely excluded and had no part to play, adding that he (Mani) was there as independent member during the procedure.