PCB seeks lion's share of profit from India, Pakistan games

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has suggested that the country should get a higher percentage of profits from games against arch-rivals India at International Cricket Council (ICC) events.

Khan believes this is one of the ways to raise funds after the terror-ravaged country was stripped off hosting international cricket and there are still no signs of the deadlock being broken with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in terms of bilateral series.

"Pakistan continues to play India in ICC events. The interest and finances that these generate are unparalleled. Tickets for the World Cup matches in Adelaide and Calcutta sold out quicker than other major sporting events - Wimbledon, the Olympics being two examples," Khan said in a paper to PCB's directors which was accessed by espncricinfo.

"The financial income in ICC championships benefits enormously from India-Pakistan clashes. Currently, all members benefit from the windfall from these matches. (The) Chairman proposed that Pakistan should be given a higher percentage of this income."

Khan presented the proposals at the ICC's recent annual conference in Edinburgh.

He also urged the ICC asking them to compensate the board for having to arrange home fixture in other countries.

Since 2009, when a Sri Lankan team bus was attacked in Lahore, Pakistan have hosted only one limited overs series against Zimbabwe.

They have had to play most of their home matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which has placed a huge burden on the board. This in turn is affecting the development of the game in the nation, the paper stated.

"Pakistan is the only country that plays its home matches in a third country," the paper said.

"This has placed a huge financial burden on Pakistan cricket. This includes having to play host in one of the most expensive destinations in the world. Dubai, for example, was recently ranked as the most expensive holiday destination."

"To host two teams - Pakistan and the opposition, scorers, umpires, other officials - in the UAE is prohibitively expensive. In addition, the hiring of grounds is a further drain. Little is recouped through gate receipts. Therefore, every time we play at home it is a further drain on resources."

"Pakistan is also suffering cricket-wise. Many of the national teams have never played a match at home against international teams. These cricketers have been denied the opportunity to benefit from home crowds. At the same time the public is starved of cricket at home - when Zimbabwe toured all five matches (two T20 Internationals, three One-Day Internationals) were sold out in minutes."

--IANS

dd/tri/bg