Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has stated that the board could collapse if the Indian Prime Minister wants it to, as the BCCI and India have a lot of power in cricket.
While speaking to the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination, the newly-appointed PCB Chairman explained how 90% of the funding for the ICC comes from India and that the PCB is funded 50% by the ICC.
“PCB is funded 50% by the ICC that is funded 90% by the BCCI or, in a way, the Indian business houses are running Pakistan cricket. If tomorrow Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi feels that we won’t provide any funding to Pakistan, then this cricket board can collapse,” said Raja.
Raja had stated earlier this week that he is worried about his board’s funding as it is heavily dependent on the ICC, with little funding from Pakistani businesses.
“Our cricket is relying on ICC’s funding right now and when I see the books, I get very scared because the contribution of local entrepreneurs is minimal,” said the former commentator and cricketer.
The PCB Chairman had some positive news as he revealed that an investor has informed him that the board will get a blank cheque if the Pakistan team beats arch-rivals India in the T20 World Cup.
“One strong investor told me that a blank cheque is ready for the PCB if Pakistan beats India in the upcoming T20 World Cup,” informed Raja.
Raja has vowed to make Pakistan cricket’s economy stronger and believes that Pakistan will not be binned by countries like England and New Zealand if they have a strong team and economy.
New Zealand and England pulled out of tours to Pakistan this year, with the Kiwis citing security concerns for their pull-out. Raja said the PCB and New Zealand board are working on rescheduling the canceled tour and said there’s a possibility of it taking place sometime in 2022.
After the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, Pakistan home tours were held in UAE, but the likes of South Africa, West Indies, and Sri Lanka have toured the country in recent years.
Pakistan will take part in the T20 World Cup, which begins later this month. The Asian side is in Group 2, alongside neighbors India and Afghanistan, New Zealand, and two teams from the qualification stages. The top two from each group will go into the semi-finals of the competition.
