PCB dismisses criticism of Pakistan’s request to ICC for help

ICC’s former president, Ehsan Mani had recently criticized the PCB for requesting the ICC to set up a special fund to offset revenue losses because of refusal of top test teams to play in Pakistan.

“It is shameful what the PCB has done it is very disappointing for me. Instead of going to the ICC with a begging bowl the PCB should curtail and control its expenses,” he said last week.

Mani also advised the PCB to instead curtail its lavish expenses and make it clear to ICC it wouldn’t play against India in any ICC event round matches.

But Khan said from London that Pakistan’s stance was justified since people didn’t realize the difficulties the PCB had faced in running cricket affairs since teams stopped touring the country in last six years.

 “We know the difficulties we have faced managing cricket because while our revenues have suffered due to India also not playing us in a bilateral series since 2007 our expenses have increased due to inflation,” he said.

He noted that the PCB had been paying the players well despite financial constraints and also subsidizing domestic cricket and development projects.

The former career diplomat said the decision to not play India in a ICC event in a group match would be extreme and PCB was not thinking about it as the moment. “We are still hopeful that by next year India will agree to a bilateral series.” 

Mani had said that Pakistan was losing money in millions because of India not playing bilateral cricket series with them since 2007.

“I have said before the PCB must stop government interference and take strong decisions. It should refuse to play India in ICC events until the BCCI changes its policy on bilateral cricket series,” he said.

He noted that whenever Pakistan plays India in an ICC event it brings in the highest revenues for the ICC and member boards. Khan said Pakistan has received a positive response from the ICC members on its request for financial support.

“We gave a detailed presentation with figures to back up our claims. The member boards took it positively and said they sympathised with our position,” Khan said.

He said the Pakistan Task Force head Giles Clarke will go through the demand to suggest ways in which the ICC can support PCB.