The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has found itself locked in a financial tug-of-war with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) over additional compensation claims related to the recently held Asia Cup. In a groundbreaking co-hosted event between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, logistical challenges were heightened, and now PCB is demanding further remuneration for the unexpected costs borne, particularly those associated with the chartering of flights for teams traveling between the two countries.
An insider familiar with PCB’s stance has revealed the board is not merely seeking the standard tournament hosting fees, roughly estimated at $250,000, along with the expected revenue shares from ticket sales and sponsorships. The additional bone of contention arises from PCB’s aspiration to gain compensation for auxiliary expenditures, including chartered flights and subsequent ancillary costs like hotel accommodations and local transport — expenses that were not factored into the initial Asia Cup budget.
Classic Travel, a Sri Lankan company, was given a sum of $281,000 entrusted with the responsibility of organizing travel for the four chartered flights between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Sources within PCB’s Cricket Management Committee (CMC) have expressed their reluctance to pay such an amount upfront as an advance payment. The unexpected shift to a hybrid tournament model followed India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns, which resulted in the majority of the matches being shifted to Sri Lanka.
The cost implications were further amplified when Zaka Ashraf, head of the CMC, controversially relocated one of the games from Lahore to Multan, in closer proximity to his hometown, escalating Pakistan’s share of the financial burden.
The informant disclosed that since it was the ACC’s decision to hold the majority of the matches in Sri Lanka, PCB contends that responsibility falls upon the council to settle the charter and additional costs. This view was apparently endorsed in a PCB meeting where these expenses were sanctioned.
This contention arises despite the matches in Pakistan going ahead as part of the hybrid co-hosting agreement. Sri Lanka ultimately hosted a larger share of the matches, resulting in the need for strategic logistical arrangements; PCB found itself facilitating the movement of not just its team, but also Bangladesh and Nepal, via chartered flights to Sri Lanka.
With the quoted cost for these arrangements at $281,700, payable in advance, PCB’s monetary obligations increased significantly. At one point, PCB mulled over the idea of mitigating these costs by selling unoccupied seats on the chartered planes to cricket enthusiasts. However, this proposal was swiftly negated due to security implications.
In a controversial twist, allegations have surfaced insinuating that a senior PCB official might have exploited one of these chartered flights for personal gain, transporting his family to Colombo. These claims have not been substantiated but add another layer of complexity to the ongoing financial deliberations.
The ACC’s reluctance to shell out additional funds stems from its position that PCB had concurred with the arrangement to hold matches on Sri Lankan turf, in return for hosting four fixtures of the Asia Cup domestically. This standoff has yet to find a resolution, leaving stakeholders in a state of limbo.
As the PCB intensifies its efforts to secure additional funds, the cricketing world continues to focus on the upcoming matches and series. Enthusiasts are encouraged to stay updated on the latest happenings, including the eagerly anticipated India vs. Australia 2023 series, through sports updates available on various platforms like social media and cricket apps. The dispute, meanwhile, remains a topic of much discussion and speculation within cricket circles, as a resolution remains in the balance.