PCB posts significant rise of Rs 6 billion in revenue

The 57th Board of Governors (BoGs) meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which met Tuesday approved the PCB financial statements for the period 2018-2019, which highlighted a significant rise in revenue of about Rs 6 billion.

Major constituent being media rights from hosting Australia and New Zealand, increase in contribution from ICC and increase in total revenue from HBL PSL after the new right cycle kicked in. Despite this increase in Revenue, the PCB have rationalised its expenses and the corresponding increase in expense is not observed. Spending on the cricketing expenditures have increased from last year, while there is a dip in administrative expenses as part of cost efficiency endeavors. Given the fact, the PCB will be hosting its bilateral cricket and full HBL PSL in Pakistan, future outlook certainly looks encouraging, a PCB spokesman, said.

The Board approved the Model Constitution for City Cricket Associations, which is in harmony with the PCB Constitution 2019 and Model Constitution for Cricket Associations.

The Board also authorised the PCB management to make a decision on the hosting of this year's Asia Cup 2020, which is an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) event. In this context, the PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani will represent Pakistan at the upcoming ACC meeting (date and venue to be confirmed) and present a proposal that protects the interests of the PCB and is in line with its mantra of not mixing politics with sports.

The PCB Board was apprised on the International Cricket Council (ICC) visit to explain the process that will be adopted for the allocation of ICC Events in the 2023-2031 cycle. The Board was briefed the PCB will indicate to the ICC in March about the Events it will like to host, while the financial and other guarantees will be submitted in September.

The Board approved the No Objective Certificate (NOC) guidelines for cricketers. Amongst other guidelines the policy allows centrally contracted players to seek a clearance for up to a maximum of three ICC-approved foreign leagues, excluding the HBL Pakistan Super League, as long they don't coincide with the PCB-organised events and player workload and fitness regime is properly managed. The CEO shall have a final approval right.

The Board also approved a budget of Rs 1.4million for the staging of four MCC matches, to be played next week in Lahore. The MCC, on their first tour in 48 years, will play Pakistan Shaheens, Northern, Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans from 13-19 February.

The PCB Board also approved the appointment of Barrister Salman Naseer as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the board. Barrister Salman had been handling the additional charge of acting Chief Operating Officer since November 22, 2019. He joined the PCB in September 2011.

Reacting to his appointment, Salman Naseer said: "I am honoured to have been assigned this role at such an exciting time when international teams are regularly touring Pakistan and the entire HBL Pakistan Super League is taking place where it belongs. I look forward to working with the management team and making a meaningful contribution so that we can collectively transform the PCB into a high-performing organisation."

The Board applauded the PCB Chairman and the Chief Executive for convincing Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to play two Tests, one ODI and three T20s in Pakistan. In relation to this series, the PCB Chairman briefed the BoGs on the amicable resolution of a dispute with the PCB's media rights partner, which contrary to media reports, earned the PCB net revenue of US$3.75million.

The PCB Chairman informed the BoGs he was able to convince the media rights partner to accept Bangladesh tour as an additional series in the agreement despite it being confirmed a week before the first T20I.

Ehsan Mani said: "I appreciate the BoGs for acknowledging our efforts in getting this series back on track. To emerge profitable in the face of extreme challenges was another big achievement of this regime. If we had failed in our attempts with the media rights partner, we would have earned nothing as the tour could have been potentially canceled and our endeavours for the resumption of Test cricket would have been derailed." Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq provided a detailed briefing to the BoGs on the men's national cricket team since he assumed charge in September 2019. He talked at length on players' fitness, domestic cricket, event scheduling, team preparation, selection criteria, future plans and the positives of his dual responsibilities.

Misbah-ul-Haq said: "The interaction with the BoGs was a wide-ranging one, which I found positive and supportive. They asked all the relevant questions and provided some constructive advice. I am satisfied with the progress the team is making though I acknowledge a lot of work still needs to be done. Having said that, we are now a different group as compared to what we were when we started. In the past five months, we have significantly improved our fitness levels and the players are also gaining confidence as they are now performing consistently at the international level."

The PCB Board was updated on the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020, which will be held across Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi from 20 February to 22 March.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: "The delivery of the HBL PSL 2020 is proceeding nicely despite a back-breaking schedule that also includes home series against Bangladesh and next week's Marylebone Cricket Club's tour of Lahore in the lead up to our marquee event. The PCB staff are working flat-out to make it a memorable event for the players, fans, commercial partners and the media. I have no doubts that this will be great celebration of cricket, which has also seen the return of Test cricket."