Pakistani cricket’s governing body, the Pakistan Cricket Board, has enlisted the assistance of Ehsan Mani, former chairman of the sport’s global governing body the International Cricket Council, as part of an effort to boost its television revenues, according to the AFP news agency.
Mani has agreed to help sell the PCB’s television rights for the next five years. PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said: “Mani will help the PCB in the renewal of TV rights and like always we will do the process in a transparent manner.”
Pakistan has had to endure the suspension of international cricket on its home grounds for the past four years, a decision that came in the wake of a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009. Pakistan has been forced to play on neutral grounds ever since, which has resulted in lower television earnings.
The PCB agreed a five-year television rights deal worth $140.5m (€108.1m) with Indian subcontinent pay-television broadcaster Taj Sports in June 2008.
However, little over six months later, India cut all bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attacks on Mumbai. The lack of games against their neighbours and arch-rivals is estimated to have cost the PCB up to $88m in lost earnings and the board’s current reserves are said to stand at $30m.