Express News screengrab of PCB Chairperson Najam Sethi's press conference on April 11 in Lahore.
“We would have gone bankrupt in two years if we were not to play home tours with major teams,” he said. “This is why it is very important to start this process of playing with India.”
He clarified that the money would be earned through bilateral tours, in which India had a major role, and through International Cricket Council (ICC) fixtures. He added that the PCB will be able to use these funds to develop grounds and infrastructure for betterment of the sport in Pakistan, and for cricketers to get better contracts and facilities.
He said that the PCB had demanded BCCI to make these agreements legally binding, adding that once that is done, the PCB will conduct the bidding process for broadcasting rights over the next 6 to 8 years.
PCB to nominate ICC president
“ICC has agreed to our request that next year PCB will nominate the ICC president,” the chairperson announced, adding that if the chairperson is from India, the President will be from Pakistan.
Anti-corruption
He also mentioned that the ICC had formed a new committee upon insistence from the PCB to review ICC’s anti-corruption laws. The PCB had claimed that some of the rules are unfair, as Mohammad Amir was banned for 5 years despite having cooperated with authorities while others with much severe violations had the same ban.
PCB has finalized Foreign Tours Program for next 8 years#PCB #PressConf
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 11, 2014
For the first time PCB to sign legally binding agreements with BCCI for tours over the next 8 years#PCB #PressConf
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 11, 2014
Former PCB chairperson reacts
Speaking with Express News Friday evening, former PCB chairperson Zaka Ashraf said that according to an agreement that he had signed with the ICC, Pakistan was supposed to nominate the ICC president anyway, after Bangladesh get their turn. “It’s all on record.”
When questioned about Sethi’s assertion that PCB would have gone bankrupt if these agreements were not made, Ashraf said that this is a misleading perception. “When I came on board the reserves were Rs4 million and when I left a year later they were at Rs5 billion.”
“All that PCB has to do is manage itself better,” he said.
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