Nawaz gives PCB chief full backing over 'Big Three' move

Prime minister met PCB chief Najam Sethi, backs efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) patron in chief Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciated the board's efforts in bringing international cricket back to the country and extended his full support to the incumbent chief.

Nawaz had met PCB chief Najam Sethi at the PM house on Wednesday.

On June 27, Sethi was elected on the newly-formed, all-powerful International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Committee (ExCo) in Melbourne, according to a PCB press release.

“The ExCo comprises five members with representations from India, England and Australia besides two others with Pakistan being elected as the fourth and the West Indies as the fifth member of the committee,” the PCB statement said.

That election sees PCB emerge as the strongest cricket board outside of the proverbial ‘Big Three’ - namely India, England and Australia –in terms of the percentage of revenue it will receive from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The PCB, led by Zaka Ashraf, had initially shown strong opposition to the ‘Big Three’ plan, which gave India, England and Australia the power to dominate world cricket.

However, the PCB was left alone in the battle as other countries also pledged their allegiance to the ‘Big Three’ plan and there was a fear of further isolation for Pakistan cricket.

According to PCB, the ICC has decided to grant Pakistan the fourth rank in the power game.

“A major achievement for PCB as ICC agreed on Thursday to grant Pakistan the fourth rank after the ‘Big Three’ in terms of the percentage of revenue to be received from the ICC in the next eight years from broadcasting and other rights on ICC fixtures,” a PCB press release read.

“It is a really big achievement,” said PCB Chairman Najam Sethi.

On June 26, the PCB had announced six cricket series between Pakistan and India between 2015 and 2022.

Four of the six series will be hosted by Pakistan in the UAE or in Pakistan with mutual consent, while the other two will be hosted by India.