Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has stressed that while the resumption of Indo-Pak ties is a welcome move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also needs to focus on generating revenue and overcoming shortfalls in their budget.
“Improving bilateral cricket ties is fine but the PCB is also duty-bound to ensure it does not get a rough deal from the BCCI,” Latif said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has been suffering a budget deficit of close to 70 crore Pakistani rupees, owing to their inability to host foreign teams on home soil. The security situation in the country has been deemed too unsafe to allow foreign teams to tour, and the PCB has been forced to host home series in neutral venues such as the UAE.
The added expenses have led to a massive shortfall in the 2011-2012 budget, which the board had previously expressed the intent to overcome via the launch of a T20 league, and a proposed series against India.
The bilateral sporting ties between both countries have been on hold since 2007, with the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks having led to strained relations between both nations. However, while the BCCI expressed interest in reviving ties with the PCB earlier this year, they have been reluctant to tour Pakistan, and unwilling to play at a neutral venue.
The last series between both teams was played in India, with the Men In Green due to host their neighbours next. However, owing to the demands of the Indian board, the recently announced Indo-Pak series will also take place in India, with the BCCI expected to earn up to USD 50 to 60 million from the short series of 3 ODIs and 2 T20s, due to be played in December 2012/January 2013.
While the PCB has insisted that they will not be looking for a share in the revenue, and are simply interested in the revival of ties, Latif is of the view that the board needs to keep the financial aspect in mind.
“The most important thing is India has not compensated us for the cancelled tour in 2009 and they also didn’t play us as per the FTP this year,” Latif said, referring to India’s 2009 tour of Pakistan which was cancelled following the Mumbai attacks.
“India has not toured Pakistan since early 2006 and even under the ICC future tours program they should allow Pakistan to host a series if not in Pakistan then at a neutral venue,” the former skipper pointed out.
