PCB banking on ODI series against India to save it from financial ruin

Lahore, Dec. 8 (ANI): The cash strapped Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants to host a One day series against India in order to resurrect its sagging finances.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told media persons here that the board has incurred heavy losses due to the refusal of foreign teams to tour the country citing security concerns.

"We have been incurring 71 percent annual losses due to relocation and cancellation of cricket series in the country, and a limited over series against India can help us overcome these losses," Butt said.

"We have been forced to play our series away from home and I toured India last month to convince them to play us on neutral venues. If they agree we can arrange that," he added.

Butt said he hopes that the PCB would get a fair share of international matches when the ICC announces its Future Tours Programme (FTP) next year.

"The option of playing at neutral venues is there for us, so I think we will be given due space in the FTP," The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Earlier, Butt had said that the Pakistan team will have a busy schedule in 2010, as the ICC Task Force has assured to keep Pakistan engaged even if it takes many years for the return of international cricket to the country.

"It was a very fruitful meeting as all the members expressed their full cooperation in honouring their international commitments with Pakistan in years to come," Butt said after his meeting with ICC Task Force.

"The coming year would be one of the most beneficial one for Pakistan cricket as ICC Task Force has assured all kind of support to keep Pakistan busy till the time international cricket returns back in the country," he added.

India were scheduled to visit Pakistan last season to play a return series, but the continuous volatile political relation between the two countries forced the respective boards to look for other options.

"The ICC Task Force has chalked their plan on Pakistan's international commitments, which also includes a series against India. However, they would refer their findings to ICC for further action," he said.

"As far as the Indian series in concerned, I am hopeful that something would come up very soon," Butt said. (ANI)