The Pakistan Cricket Board will implement the Decision Review System (DRS) for the upcoming one-day series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates next month as the talks with sponsors to finance the system is in final stages.
A Board official said that a sponsorship deal, which would allow the board to use DRS technology in the series against Australia, has nearly been finalised. “We’re very much in favour of having the DRS in ODI and Test matches and we see the Australia series as a good platform to promote the technology,” he said.
“The sponsors will tie up directly with the broadcasters to cover expenses for using the technology,” the official said. Pakistan will play three ODIs and three T20 internationals against Australia from August 28.
The official said that Pakistan is also looking to implement DRS when it tours South Africa in January.
“The host country has the right to decide whether it wants to offer use of DRS to the touring side but as far as we know South Africa use the DRS in their home series,” he said.
The PCB is looking to earn some useful profits despite being unable to host the series in Pakistan.
Besides having a broadcasting deal with UAE based Ten Sports, sources said the board has sold its title sponsorship and other ground rights for an amount between USD 550,000 to USD 600,000.
PCB denies hosting reciprocal India-Pak series in England: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly rejected reports that it is considering the possibility of hosting India in England for a reciprocal series between the two sides.
“I want to make it crystal clear that the PCB hasn’t even thought about the reciprocal series against India, so there is no truth in any reports on this issue,” PCB spokesman reported to have said.
“Whenever that series comes under discussion, the first choice is going to be Pakistan,” he added.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) reluctance to send a team to Pakistan could mean that Pakistani fans might have to travel to a neutral venue, possibly England, to see their team host India.
Pakistan and India are tentatively scheduled to take on each other in India in December.
But while the Indian board seems to be well on course to get everything right in time for the series, the PCB may once again be left scurrying for venues as it did with its upcoming series against Australia, the paper further said.
