Pakistan Cricket Board incurs $1.6 million loss after failing to arrange series against India

No bilateral series with India has led to a loss of $1.6 million for PCB

India’s denial to play a bilateral series with Pakistan has cost a loss of at least $1.6 million to the PCB, as per NDTV’s report.

According to the budgetary documents released by the PCB, they have to repay an amount worth $1.6 million to TEN Sports, who are broadcasters of their home bilateral matches. Since there was no bilateral series with India during last four years at home in Pakistan or at an away venue, TEN are asking for repayment.

“India has not agreed to tour Pakistan or even play against us at a neutral venue since the Mumbai attacks and this is costing the PCB big revenues,” a PCB official said.

He said the issue is not only regarding the repayment of Ten Sports but also the fact that any series against India would at least generate around $60 to 70 million for the home board.

“We went to a play a short series against India in India last December without any financial benefits because we wanted to take the first step towards resumption of bilateral cricketing ties. We were keen to convince the BCCI to at least give us a home series at a neutral venue but that has not materialised so far,” he said.

The PCB’s four year contract with TEN Sports ended in June earlier this year, during which there was no series with India even though under the ICC’s FTP, PCB had agreed with Ten Sports had for a home series against India. The report also says that due to their payments issue, PCB are not able to spend more on development of their own IPL style league – PSL (Pakistan Super League).

“This has led to a situation where the PCB has also not been able to clear some other payments like an amount of $25,000 per month to Haroon Lorgat when he was hired as consultant for the Pakistan Super League earlier this year,” PCB official said.

He also said that former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf had agreed to appoint Lorgat, but never gave an approval in writing for the disbursement of payments to the South African.