New beginnings: PCB scores sponsors for six regions

Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Peshawar and Larkana sold, says official

KARACHI: After floating tenders for the sale of regions, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received 14 proposals, out of which it has accepted six bids.

This is the first time that the board decided to put regions up for sale, bartering a three-year period for management rights, sponsorships rights and merchandising rights from 2015 to 2018.

While there were concerns regarding the new initiative due to the perceived disinterest in domestic cricket, the outcome is vastly different as the board met its initial target, which was to sell six to eight regions from the 16 offered.

The board had put Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Dera Murad Jamali, Faisalabad, Fata, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Larkana, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Azad Jammu and Kashmir regions on sale.

“We’ve sold six regions: Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Peshawar and Larkana,” claimed a senior PCB official. “We received 14 proposals but dismissed eight of them due to different reasons. I can confirm that bids of Rs20 million a year and more have been received for two regions, which is a good price, and hopefully we will make it a corporate success.”

However, the regions would neither be entirely operated by the successful bidders or the PCB; instead, a four-member board will be formed for their operations.

The documents sent out to the sponsors have been obtained by The Express Tribune, and its clause 1.8 reads, “Under the regional constitution, the Sponsored Regional Cricket Association (SRCA) will be governed by a regional board which comprise of (i) Chairman being President of RCA (ii) Managing Director, being a nominated representative of the Sponsor (iii) Secretary, being the secretary of the region (iv) Finance Manager (Treasurer), as nominated by the PCB.”

The new arrangement is expected to further strengthen the region and players as they would receive improved match fees and salaries as compared to the previous edition’s domestic tournaments.

The official further added that the budgeting will be done by the sponsors, with the PCB giving the go-ahead after thorough scrutiny.

Asked whether the PCB sees the new step as a failure or success judging by its initial impact, the official replied, “We’ve met our original objective by getting six sponsors. The idea was never to sell all regions in one go but to sell them over time.”

However, one aspect which may stoke controversy is the rebranding/renaming of the regional associations and teams as according to clause 2.4 (1), the sponsor is allowed to insert their brand name before the name of the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2015.

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