Since the TV rights agreement has ended, the broadcasters are now demanding repayment of a substantial amount which has been utilised by the PCB. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID
The PCB is due to pay a staggering $1.6 million to their previous broadcasters Ten Sports.
PCB’s relentless efforts of holding a series with India on reciprocal basis never materialised and Pakistan could only clash against their arch-rivals in a Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) series in India.
According to ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) contract, the PCB and Ten Sports had an agreement for a home series against India in Pakistan or at a neutral venue but it never happened.
Since the TV rights agreement has ended, the broadcasters are now demanding repayment of a substantial amount which has been utilised by the PCB.
“The TV rights agreement with Taj TV (Ten Sports) expired on June 30 and they’re pressing us hard for the refund of advance TV Rights amounting to $1,661,667,” reads a confidential document of the PCB made available to The Express Tribune. “The amount in question was given to the PCB for the Indian series that hasn’t taken place.”
The document further reveals that the PCB was reminded about this big sum when they asked Ten Sports for a late payment surcharge of $38,267 for the Pakistan-Australia series, which was played in 2012, as they received the payment after a considerable delay.
The broadcaster contested the matter of late payment surcharge, stating that the board has utilised the amount of TV rights fee for the India series, which did not take place for the past few years and that the PCB should have refunded the money much earlier.
Broadcasters finalised for SA, SL series
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has chosen two different broadcasters for the upcoming series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in the UAE later this year.
The sale process was conducted by a Bids Committee, headed by former ICC President Ehsan Mani and included another independent member, Justice (retd) Shabbar Raza Rizvi.
“Two bidders participated in the bidding process and both were evaluated,” said a PCB spokesperson. “The offer from Ten Sports for the South Africa series, being the highest and the offer of Geo for Sri Lanka series, also being the highest, was recommended to the Board of Governors of PCB for approval. Media rights for the two tours have accordingly been awarded.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (9)
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We should play with China
@Gulam Rasool "Kuldeep sharma":
Sorry to disappoint you Sir, but you really need to read it slowly.
It is India who is violating FTP schedule Not Pakistan. The bad of Pakistan is that PCB never pushed this issue either deliberately or under influence from Pak Govt for towing 'Foreign Policy through Cricket'.
(See.....This kind of stuff happens only when Boards becomes Govt's dept rather that sport facilitating body)
Ten Sports is asking nothing but fulfillment of contract from another Party (PCB)
regards,
@Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad:
bcci may pay a couple of million just like that if pcb begs... dont have to be so philosophical!
@Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad "PCB must sue India" Sorry to dissapoint you but there is not any legal option, because ICC binding contract was not signed for particular tournament.
"If India don’t want to play Pakistan, we are also not dying to play with India, as well." Then why are you crying & what is the meaning for this article??
PCB must sue India, for refusing to play cricket with Pakistan as per FTP of the ICC, neither in Pakistan nor on neutral grounds.
At the same time India wants to dictates Pakistan to come to India that too for T20 and ODI matches. India must be told that you cant have cake and eat it too.
Moreover, India also plays against Pakistan in such tournaments like the world cups and champions trophy. All this proves that India intentionally follows a policy of causing financial loss to Pakistan, for which it has no legal justification; and must be forced to redeem financial losses to the PCB, for its bringing politics into the sports.
Otherwise, let the PCB categorically tell the ICC that Pakistani and Indian matches should be deleted from the FTP schedules (as Indians don't want to play Pakistan even on neutral venues), to settle the issue once for ever.
If India don't want to play Pakistan, we are also not dying to play with India, as well.
However, PCB can not be made to bear the financial losses just for the sake of ICC's FTP.
As such, either the ICC should force India to make good PCB's financial losses or the ICC itself, must pay this money back to Pakistan, because PCB had to make advance arrangements, as per FTP of the ICC.
What nonsense. I agree with Leela. Its a repayment, hardly a fine or something. We're just too used to taking and not giving back.
Based on the story, there is no 'massive penalty'. It is just a demand for payment of services not being rendered. PCB has taken in $1.6M and did not meet its obligations, which Ten Sports is asking for a refund.
Why not pull off an IMF redux - borrow from the sports network for a future contract and repay them what is owed!
Relax , it is 1.6 million dollars not billion.
When $1.6M is a 'staggering' amount for a sports board of a country, you KNOW that country is in a heap of trouble. The dream is over. Lets stop living in delusions now.