Hosting Zimbabwe is not profitable, says PCB official

Dismisses media claims that series not being hosted due to lack of funds.

KARACHI:

According to the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, the PCB is undergoing financial issues, which has forced the board to abandon its plans for the African nation.

However, when contacted about the matter, the PCB officials said that Pakistan have decided against hosting Zimbabwe due to its unprofitable nature according to the new rules of International Cricket Council (ICC), where revenue generation would depend on the opponents.

“The idea of hosting Zimbabwe for Tests isn’t feasible because we won’t be able to generate much revenue,” a senior PCB official told The Express Tribune.

“There is no truth in the reports that cite lack of funds as the reason. We’ve always had good relations with Zimbabwe and have played with them quite often in the last decade.

“We would have gladly hosted Zimbabwe in Pakistan, but playing with them in the UAE won’t be cost-effective.”

Apart from the financial point of view, Pakistan’s series with New Zealand in the UAE that will be played in November-December is another reason for sacking the Zimbabwe series.

Before that, Pakistan will be up against Sri Lanka in August, while they will take on Australia in October.

“We have a very tight schedule this year, which makes it very difficult to slot another Test series at the end of the year,” the official concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.

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