PCB to pay hefty price for failing to host India
Board owes $1.6 million to Ten Sports in broadcasting rights refund.
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
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to pay a heavy price for not being able to host India either on home soil or at a neutral venue during the past few years.
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.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to pay a heavy price for not being able to host India either on home soil or at a neutral venue during the past few years.
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.