PCB to get USD 400,000 for every World Cup match it won''t host

Karachi, Feb 2 (PTI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)will be paid around USD 400,000 for every match it wassupposed to host in the World Cup, which could not be held inthe country due to security concerns.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had moved awayPakistan''s share of 14 matches and distributed them among theother three joint hosts --India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh --but the PCB would still be paid the hosting fees.

Sources in the PCB told PTI that under the host countriesagreement signed by the co-hosts with the ICC, all hostcountries will get around 400,000 dollars per match they host.

"The amount could be as high as USD 500,000 but the400,000 dollars is confirmed," one source said.

"That was basically the solution worked out to thedispute between the PCB and ICC over the issue of hostingrights which led to the PCB sending a legal notice to thesport''s world governing body after the shifting of the matchesin 2009," the source said.

The matches, including a semi-final, were moved fromPakistan after the militants attack on Sri Lankan team inLahore in March, 2009.

The source said the ICC had, after Pakistan withdrew itslegal notice, agreed that although no matches would be held inPakistan due to security reasons but the PCB would be paidhosting fees per match.

The source said Pakistan would also get a share ofrevenues from gate receipts, ground advertising and sale ofhospitality boxes at the venues where its share of matcheswould be held now in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"Only the host nations get paid hosting fees by the ICCthe other participating nations will get their share of theoverall revenues of the ICC from the World Cup," the sourcesaid.

The source added that the ICC had informed the PCB thatits dues from the World Cup would be cleared 90 days after theend of the tournament according to procedures.

The source also said the ICC had also cleared most of thedues of the PCB it had held up last year due to the failure ofthe board to submit audited accounts of previous yearsincluding Pakistan�s share of revenues from the ICC ChampionsTrophy and the T20 World Cup.

"So even though teams might not be touring Pakistan atthe moment but the PCB would find itself in a healthyfinancial position after the World Cup," the source said.

Pakistan is due to play all six of its group matches atdifferent venues in Sri Lanka and despite the ICC movingmatches from Pakistan, leading companies and organisationshave invested heavily in World Cup related campaigns promotingtheir brands.