Future of tour in jeopardy

Discussions between the PCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board were underway to scrap the series altogether.

KARACHI: Despite Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed’s immediate confirmation that the remainder of the tour – a tour match, two Twenty20s and five One-Day Internationals – will go ahead, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials remained apprehensive before confirming the news.

According to a board official, discussions between the PCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were underway to scrap the series altogether. However, such a move  would have severe financial implications for the ECB with lost marketing revenue as well as ticket sales as the cricket season draws to a close in England.

“Both boards have started a discussion to cancel the series and that remains a possibility if any Pakistani player is proven guilty of spot-fixing,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “However, the financial loss would be huge for the ECB and chances are a comprise may be struck between the boards to avoid such an event.”

It is also believed that the only reason the fourth day of the final Test at Lord’s went ahead was to save the ECB from running into a loss given that it was a sell-out crowd on a Sunday.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2010.