PCB asks ICC for ‘special funding’ to sustain financially

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been engaged in discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the PCB-BCCI money conundrum. The Pakistan Board had sought monetary compensation of a mammoth Rs. 447 crore from the Indian board after the latter failed to honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to take on Pakistan cricket team for bilateral series six times between 2014 and 2023.

PCB has now knocked ICC’s doors for ‘special funding’ without which it cannot sustain itself. The argument is that they suffered massive financial losses due to two reasons. One was India pulling themselves out from any further series with Pakistan, and the second was Pakistan having to travel to the United Arab Emirates for all its international matches.

PCB seeking help from ICC unfolds at a time when the BCCI itself is in a tussle with the international council for its adequate share of revenue after the adoption of the new revenue model. When India and Pakistan signed the MOU in 2014, it was also the same year when ICC revamped its financial model, which hiked India’s revenue compensation as part of the ‘Big Three’ model.

It has been learnt that the Times of India has the paper presented by the PCB to ICC for the special funding. The president of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Giles Clarke, presented the paper on his tour to Pakistan some time back.

India had pulled out of playing against Pakistan due to political and diplomatic tension between the two neighbouring countries due to issues like cross-border terrorism. It seems highly unlikely that the two cricket rivals can resume bilateral series unless the Indian government gives the nod.

India and Pakistan have not played a single bilateral series after the 2008 attacks in Mumbai except for the limited-overs tour in 2012 when Pakistan toured India for a short ODI and T20I series. The arch-rivals will next be seen playing against each other on June 4 at the ICC Champions Trophy in England.