PCB set to get $ 16 million as WC compensation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is all set to get a hefty chunk of 2011 World Cup earnings despite not even hosting a single match of the mega event staged jointly in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

PCB Chariman Iijaz Butt

According to a source close to the World Cup secretariat, Pakistan would receive around $ 16 million from the World Cup under the compensation package worked out between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and PCB.

“The total package includes hosting fees and other benefits,” the source told PTI.

According to the source, the PCB received around $ 10.5 million soon after the conclusion of the World Cup in April.

“The rest of the amount is also due to be paid to the PCB soon,” he said.

No international cricket has been stage in Pakistan due to security issues soon after terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March, 2009 and the source said the ICC realised PCB’s helplessness under the circumstances.

“The ICC realises that with Pakistan being forced to play all its home series at neutral venues it is losing out on hard-earned money that it would have made if it had hosted matches at home.”

“A PCB delegation has already been to the UAE to inspect the venues, hotels and other arrangements and we are now just waiting to sign the MOU with the Sri Lankans,” he said.

He confirmed that there was rapid renovation work going on at the Sharjah stadium and the PCB delegation had inspected it in detail.

“The stadium is being renovated and upgraded very fast and should be complete in a month’s time. We will have no problems playing a Test either against Sri Lanka or England in Sharjah when it is ready,” the PCB official added.

(www.dawn.com)