Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Pakistan Cricket Board's $43 Million Revenue and Budget

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spends about $43 million on national and international cricket every year, according to media reports. It receives about $16.5 million a year share from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as part of the new revenue sharing model while the rest comes from Pakistan Super League (PSL) and multiple bilateral cricket series with other ICC member nations. PCB could earn significantly more if India, with its huge media market, agrees to honor its prior commitments to play bilateral series with Pakistan. PCB has threatened to sue BCCI to recover $200 million in lost revenue since 2007.

ICC Revenue Sharing:

Under a new deal announced by the International Cricket Club (ICC) after its recent board meeting in Dubai, Pakistan's PCB will receive $132 million from 2015 through 2023. India's BCCI will receive $293 million across the eight-year cycle, the ECB $143 million, Zimbabwe Cricket $94 million and the remaining seven Full Members $132 million each. Associate Members will receive total combined funding of $280 million, according to ESPN sports network.

Source: ESPN


The new, more equitable revenue sharing model will replace the "Big Three" financial model drawn up by the boards of India, England and Australia that allocated much larger revenue share to them.

As expected India is not happy with the reduction in its share of the ICC revenue to $ 293 million. While the new distribution model is not a complete rollback to the equal funding from ICC events that Full Members like Pakistan used to receive, it is considerably lower than the $440 million the BCCI stood to earn under the Big Three model. The associate members of ICC would be the biggest losers if the BCCI demand for $440 million was accepted.

India-Pakistan Series:

India, with its massive media market, generates significantly more revenue that any other national cricket team and it has not played a full bilateral series with Pakistan since 2007. PCB had signed an MoU with the BCCI officials in 2014 on the sidelines of an ICC meeting. Under the MoU, Pakistan and India were to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023 but India so far has refused to honor its commitment saying that the Modi government has not given it permission for bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.

The BCCI has refused even to play Pakistan on neutral venues including Sri Lanka. PCB claims it has lost nearly $200 million because of India's failure to deliver. BCCI has also rejected ICC chief Shashank Manohar's offer of additional $100 million to Pakistan to cover its losses, according to India Today.  PCB is now threatening to sue BCCI to recover its losses.

Pakistan Super League: 

Pakistan Super League has become a significant source of revenue for PCB since its launch in 2016. The auction of the teams in 2016 generated $18.6 million for PCB in 2016, according to media reports.  This year, PCB earned a profit of $2.6 million net after all the expenses of PSL's second season.

PCB Plans: 

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said PCB plans to use the money for new cricket academies across the nation and to set up cricket programs at schools and universities and to sponsor cricket clubs.  In addition, sports facilities like cricket pitches and grounds will be improved across the country.

Summary:

Pakistan Cricket Board seems to be achieving self-sufficiency and the wherewithal to fund the sport of cricket in Pakistan better than ever before. In addition to the money from the ICC revenue sharing, PCB is also getting a new revenue stream from the PSL to help meet its needs. It's important that the PCB follows through on its plans to support cricket programs at schools and universities and cricket clubs, and to improve sports facilities in the country.


36 comments:

Riaz Haq said...

“We [the PCB] were at loss due to the creation of Big Three in the ICC and with its abolition, Pakistan will get the [monetary] benefit of $39 million,” the PCB chief stated.

“We due to Big Three set-up suffered in many ways. For example, we were scheduled to play six [bilateral] series with India; but they backed out of the commitment due to which we suffered huge financial losses,” he added.

“With the abolition of Big Three, now the ICC will be more professional and democratic as its member countries will get equal financial benefits and representation in the Council,” said the PCB chairman.

Answering a question, Shaharyar said the Big Three set-up was adversely affecting world cricket, adding that several promises were made to Pakistan but not fulfilled which caused huge financial losses to the PCB.

“Now with the elimination of Big three from world cricket, we hope that a new era will begin in the ICC, and in Pakistan cricket,” said Shaharyar.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1329865

Dawud M. said...

Good to see that ICC is disbursing funds to cash strapped boards to continue development of the game.

The ICC funding is kept alive with BCCI (India) contributing to over 70% of ICC revenue. The revenue distribution however gives BCCI around 23% which is much lower than what they are entitled to.

BCCI funds the entire game in India and receives no assistance from the Government.


Riaz Haq said...

Dawud: "BCCI funds the entire game in India and receives no assistance from the Government."

Given the huge size of India's media market, the BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world.


The Richest Cricket Boards of the World


http://sportycious.com/richest-cricket-boards-world-91423/

The New Zealand Cricket (NZC)

Worth: US$ 9 million

The New Zealand Cricket board is standing at the bottom of the list as cricket is the second popular game in the country after Rugby. Although the kiwi cricketers do earn a lot because of playing in many T20 leagues across the world, the cricket board is still struggling to earn big like other cricket boards.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)

Worth: US$ 15 million

Actually the West Indies Cricket Board is a combination of many Caribbean cricket playing nations. Since early 1900s different Caribbean countries playing as a one team and had some fantastic time on the international cricket arena from 1970s to mid 1990s but since then soccer and other American sports has taken over the imagination of the youth there. Cricket is still alive there but not as it was in the past, hence WICB is also struggling to earn lots of money. But there is a hope. Just last year a franchise based Caribbean Cricket League has been established and it has become an instant hit, hopefully that will attract more and more people to reconnect with the game.


Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)

Worth: US$ 20 million


The Sri Lankan team probably is one of the top most international cricket teams but the financial position of their cricket board is nothing to feel happy about. It is on the edge to say the least and surviving only on television rights mostly. The board is not even been able to pay the salaries to its cricketers and often the anger of Lankan cricketers comes out in open.

Cricket Australia (CA)

Worth 24 million

Cricket Australia is a public limited company and it is one of the richest sporting bodies in the country. With the Australian Cricket team doing consistently well and cricket still remains the focus of the people there Cricket Australia doesn’t have to worry too much about the money. With lucrative KFC T20 Bash league Cricket Australia can certainly look forward.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

Worth: US$ 55 million

Despite the country has been badly hit by terrorism, despite the team has to play their ‘home games’ outside and despite the board has been running ad hoc for last so many years, the PCB seems to be doing well on the economic front. May be because the fan following it has and hence the television rights and frequent foreign tour guarantee money are the reasons for their fair enough position.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

Worth US$ 59 million

One of the three richest cricket boards of the world is ECB. The place where cricket was born and the following for all three styles of the game are equally popular, the earning is bound to be good. The ECB is also the inventor Twenty20 cricket and its league may not be franchise based but still very lucrative. Plus ECB has an equal say on all important cricketing matters too make a big difference.

Cricket South Africa (CSA)

Worth: US$ 69 million

Despite earning so much Cricket South Africa is spending more than what they are earning, hence they are actually making losses. They are hugely dependent on television rights and teams touring their country more frequently than not. But the team is doing good and that is a good news for them.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

Worth US$ 295 million

It seems that the BCCI has a Midas touch because whatever they do (or don’t do in a few cases) they bound to earn money and lots of them. There was a period when BCCI was not even able to pay their cricketers on time, but since India’s win of the 1983 world cup changed the fortunes of the Indian cricket. The big moment came when in 2008 the Indian Premier League or IPL started and the BCCI started to mint more money.

Raz said...

In Pakistan government controls 100% of the cricket board. Lot of money disappears and wasted and is not spent on improving facilities. Facility are the same since 1980s and now Bangladesh has better grounds than us

Riaz Haq said...

Bahria Town starts building Pakistan’s largest cricket stadium

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/198744-Bahria-Town-starts-building-Pakistans-largest-cricket-stadium

To have capacity of 50,000; to be built at Bahria Town Karachi; Malik Riaz Hussain says Rafi Cricket Stadium will revive international cricket in two years; we want to create jobs and business opportunities, promote education to build a prosperous Pakistan

KARACHI: Bahria Town Karachi held the ground-breaking ceremony of the Rafi Cricket Stadium to mark the beginning of construction work on the largest and latest cricket stadium in Pakistan on Friday. The graceful ceremony was held at the stadium site, which was attended by top management of Bahria Town and Bahria Town Karachi, legendry cricketers including Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Shoaib Muhammad, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam. Cricket aficionados, residents of Bahria Town Karachi and people from other parts of the city were also present.

The stadium has three levels designed as per the ICC standards with capacity of 50,000, which is the largest in Pakistan. Equipped with floodlights, digital scoreboards, LED screens, indoor training facilities and a hostel, this world-class cricket facility will feature an international standard academy for the promotion of cricket in Pakistan.

The cricket stadium is located in Bahria Sports City which is the top choice for those who prefer a healthy and active lifestyle. Offering luxury villas and residential plots, a model villa at Sports City is now open for visit. Chairman Bahria Town Malik Riaz Hussain, who was the chief guest on the occasion, performed the ground-breaking ceremony by pressing the button to start the crane at the site.

Riaz Haq said...

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE > PAKISTAN
PCB reinitiates Shakarparian cricket stadium

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1058115/pcb-reinitiates-shakarparian-cricket-stadium/

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rebooted an abandoned project to build an international standard cricket stadium in the Shakarparian area.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the PCB signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2012 under which the CDA allotted 35 acres near Shakarparian for the construction of the stadium. The project was supposed to be completed within a year, with 30 per cent of income from international matches and sponsorships to be given to the CDA, while remaining 70 per cent would go to the PCB.

The project fell through due to the PCB’s financial woes.

The PCB has now applied for a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) to execute the project, a source privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

In addition to the proposed 50,000 seat stadium, a cricket academy, a five-star hotel, and other related facilities were part of the project in the forest area.
Green city or concrete city

The stadium would be constructed in three years at a cost of Rs2 billion, according to initial estimates. According to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, the project will cause environmental degradation in the form of loss of 450 to 500 fully grown trees, while vegetation and shrubs on 15 acres will be effected. The project will also have bearing on wildlife and fauna and flora in the area, according to the EIA report.

BD said...

and you left Bangladesh lol
and i am sure it the figure is not correct.
CA ranks top 3 in rankings (not sure about above ECB or not)
this is why it called Big3 member duh ! !

Riaz Haq said...

BD: "and you left Bangladesh lol"

BCB becomes fifth richest cricket board

http://dunyanews.tv/en/Cricket/374777-BCB-becomes-fifth-richest-cricket-board

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has become the fifth richest cricket board of the world according to a report.

As per details, BCB is behind Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket South Africa (CSA), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The report has disclosed that BCB is richer than even Cricket Australia (CA). The net worth of BCB at the moment is USD 51 million, whereas, CA’s net worth is USD 24 million.

This news should be no surprise for the readers as the love for cricket in Bangladesh is not hidden from anybody. Moreover, the addition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has benefited BCB manifolds in generating the revenues as well as raising the standards of cricket in the country.

BCCI tops the list of richest cricket boards with net worth of USD 295 million, CSA is second with USD 79 and ECB is third with USD 59 million.

PCB comes at number four with net worth of USD 55 million. It is also worth mentioning here that Pakistan have been deprived of cricket at home for many years, which has affected the board’s revenue as well. It is expected that PCB will generate more income and increase its net worth once cricket returns home.

Dawood M. said...

BCCI also pays cricketers very well, finally bringing their salaries on par with International athletes.

There is no better way to improve performance than paying them well.

Below are 2017 salaries of top players.

http://www.totalsportek.com/money/richest-cricketers/

Player Salary Endorsement Total

1. Virat Kohil $6.9 m $20 m $26.9 m

2. MS Dhoni $5.7 m $14 m $19.7 m

3. Chris Gayle $4.5 m $3m $7.5 m

4. AB De Villiers $4.2 m $2m $6.5 m

5. David Warner $ 3.5 m $2m $5.5m

6. Mitchell Starc $3.5m $500k $4m

7. Virender Sehwag $1.8m $2m $3.8m

8. Yuvraj Singh $1.8m $2m $3.8m

9. Gautam Ghambir $1.1m $1m $2.2m

10. Steven Smith $2m $500k $2.5m
May 4, 2017 at 5:05 PM

Riaz Haq said...

Dawud: "BCCI also pays cricketers very well, finally bringing their salaries on par with International athletes."

Hope they don't favor a few at the expense of many.

Already, India is one of most unequal countries in the world with the top 1% owning 58.4% of the nation's wealth while many go hungry

http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/11/cs-wealth-report-2016-average-pakistani.html

Riaz Haq said...

When it comes to salaries, it’s all about location

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/when-it-comes-to-salaries-its-all-about-location/news-story/600a328e795bbec55087a7022ea3a03f

Australian and Indian cricketers earn the most. Bangladeshi and Zimbabwean cricketers get peanuts. Unsurprisingly, the highest paid nations do much better than the lowest paid nations in world cricket rankings, making the competition very uneven.

Many nations pay players about 25 per cent of cricket revenue, but base salaries differ greatly depending on national crowds and TV earnings.

Cricket is a major sport in India and Australia so corporate sponsorships often exceed base salaries.

The three top performing nations are Australia, India and South Africa.

Top Australian cricketers’ base salaries from Cricket Australia are $1.5 million, plus $200,000 for 10 Tests.

Top Indian official base salaries are $250,000 plus $100,000 for Tests, but overall earnings are boosted by huge sponsorships and lucrative Indian IPL Twenty20 contracts.

Cricket is less important in South Africa and England. SA’s top cricketers earn $200,000 — good pay in a poor country. England players’ generous base salary is $1.3 million, plus $250,000 for Tests.

On the downside, extra earnings are limited in England, given limited sponsorships and the Indian IPL coinciding with the English cricket season.

New Zealand’s top players’ base salaries are $186,000 plus $79,000 for Tests.

Sri Lankan and West Indian top cricketers get $186,000 plus match fees. Pakistani top players get base salaries of $70,000 plus $52,000 for Tests.

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are the worst paid, with top base salaries of $41,000 and $20,000 respectively.

Good compared with domestic alternatives, but they can earn more playing cricket elsewhere.

Players earn extra money above official base salaries from bonuses, one day and Twenty20 internationals, the Indian IPL, Australian Big Bash and English county cricket, or corporate sponsorships.

Total earnings estimates are less reliable, but Michael Clarke, Mitch Johnson, David Warner and Shane Watson reportedly earned more than $4 million each last year; Steve Smith $3 million and Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Starc and Aaron Finch around $2 million each.

Australian cricketers can earn big money in the lucrative Indian IPL after retiring from international cricket, with Brett Lee on $3.5 million and Michael Hussey $1.5 million.

You earn big bucks playing in India, where the game’s popularity draws huge sponsorships and IPL contracts.

Of the Indians, MS Dhoni was the highest-paid world cricketer in 2015, with $4.5 million in salary and an amazing $37 million in endorsements. Sachin Tendulkar earned $24 million in endorsements alone. In total Virat Kohli earned $16 million and Gautam Gambhir $11 million.

Chris Gayle (West Indies) and Kevin Pietersen (England) no longer play for their countries, but earned $9 million and $6 million respectively.

Cricket pays well if you are in the right country and are good at the short form.

Top cricketers need business managers and investment advisers, as well as cricket coaches.

In Australia, cricketers earn more than in salary-capped sports like AFL and there are more well-paid Australians in cricket than tennis or golf.

Riaz Haq said...

A story from Indian media in 2014 prior to the "ICC Big 3" vote then:

'PCB could make $100 million revenue if it agrees to new ICC order'

http://www.firstpost.com/sports/pcb-could-make-100-million-revenue-if-it-agrees-to-new-icc-order-1368183.html

The Pakistan Cricket Board was paid around $58 to 60 million as its share of the International Cricket Council (ICC) events held in the present cycle of eight years, which ends in 2014.

A well-informed source told PTI that this amount didn't include the compensation amount of around $15 millions the PCB got from the ICC after the 2011 World Cup matches were moved from Pakistan due to security reasons.


"Interestingly in the revised draft working paper aimed at restructuring of world cricket and ICC governance and distribution of finances among member countries, Pakistan's share will grow significantly in the next cycle of ICC events fro 2015 to 2023," he said.

"Pakistan's share could cross $100 million if it supports the revised draft paper being pushed by India, Australia and England and which will be put to vote at the next executive board meeting in Singapore on 8 February," the source said.

He said the PCB had also been told during and on the sidelines of the ICC executive board meeting held in Dubai this week that it could also earn substantial revenues from the new bilateral agreements that will go into effect from 2015.

David Cohen said...

Total revenue of cricket all over the world is 1.7 billion. India generates 70% of it, which is 1.2 billion. And as per ICC vote should get 293 million while remaining one should be distributed to others. wah wah.

Also, why is Pak cricket revenue just 43 million. Is their economy that bad? If I am not mistaken, no team has traveled to Pakistan for 10+ yrs. So why are they blaming India alone. In any case, India should never allow Pak to earn even 1 dollar from India.

Riaz Haq said...

DC: "So why are they blaming India alone. In any case, India should never allow Pak to earn even 1 dollar from India."

Pakistan and any other ICC member nations gets nothing from India. The revenue that is shared is by the ICC from the ICC events.

India has the option of not participating in the ICC events in which case it will get zero revenue from the ICC

Riaz Haq said...

Story from 2014:

Pakistan Cricket Board Earns 800 Million Rupees In Profits

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/pakistan-cricket-board-earns-800-million-rupees-in-profits-1514424

The outgoing chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi, has claimed that in the fiscal year ending June, 2014 the PCB, which was in danger of going bankrupt in three years' time, has ended up with profits of 800 million rupees.
Sethi, who is stepping down as PCB chairman as the board prepares for fresh elections on August 18 to elect a new chief, said the amount was the highest pretax profits since 2011 against budgeted deficit of 366 million rupees for this fiscal year.
"This has been achieved mainly due to austerity measures, economies of all scales and generation of better revenues especially television rights," he said.
Sethi said there had been a 12 percent reduction in administrative costs in his tenure compared to previous year.
"This entails mainly reduction of staff, elimination of unnecessary travel, elimination of unnecessary advertisement and promo expenses."
According to him, 657 million rupees were budgeted for matches at neutral venues but actual expenses were 500 million, leading to a reduction of 24 percent while there was also a reduction of 17 percent in expenses on tours outside Pakistan.
"246 million rupees was budgeted while actual expense is about 217 million," he added.
Sethi claimed that when he took charge he was told by the CFO at his first meeting on the budget that if things continued in the same manner in the board, PCB would be bankrupt in three years' time.
"I was aghast at the continuing budget deficit eating into our revenues," Sethi said.
"I have emphasised on increasing investment income as compared to previous year and budget and in a complete stopover of massive capital expenditure that was originally budgeted for two billion rupees has been reduced to 196 million rupees and this as saved millions for PCB and greatly contributed towards enhanced liquidity of PCB," he stated.

Riaz Haq said...

Pakistan Super League a Success! PCB Eyes Revenue of $50 million

https://www.thequint.com/sports/2016/02/23/pakistan-super-league-a-success-pcb-eyes-revenue-of-dollar50-million


Pakistan’s inaugural national cricket league has been an unexpected success, even though all the matches have been played in the United Arab Emirates.
If all goes according to plan, PSL will generate revenues of approximately $50 million, according to cricket board estimates. A 10-year forecast sees the board making profits of $50-60 million.
But the PSL has a long way to go if it wants to catch up with the likes of IPL. The 2015 Indian Premier League season earned revenues of $418 million.

Pakistan’s inaugural national cricket league has been an unexpected success, even though all the matches have been played in the United Arab Emirates due to security risks.
Since the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was announced last September, the country’s cricket board has sold five franchises for $93 million and attracted players from 11 different countries.
They include big names like West Indies batsman Chris Gayle and former players Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and England’s Kevin Pietersen.

The biggest surprise, however, has been the response from Pakistan’s public. The people have given the PSL more importance than the 2015 World Cup.
Since matches began in the UAE on February 4, national television viewing figures have been higher than for the 2015 World Cup, with 55 percent of Pakistan’s TV-watching public tuning into the tournament at peak times.
Tuesday’s final match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in Dubai is expected to attract similar figures. The match is sold out.

---------------

If all goes according to plan, PSL will generate revenues of approximately $50 million, according to cricket board estimates. A 10-year forecast sees the board making profits of $50-60 million.
Given the size of Pakistan’s potential market of 180 million people, cricket experts say it is possible to imagine the PSL becoming one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world.
Despite the success of PSL’s first season, the real test for the cricket board will be if it can permanently bring the game back home.
Pakistan Cricket Board officials said before the season that the ruling body approached over a hundred cricketers to ask them if they would be willing to play on Pakistani soil. Unfortunately, None of them agreed.
“Next year, we hope to have at least the opening and closing PSL matches on Pakistani soil,” PSL Chairman Sethi said. “That is the dream.”

Anonymous said...

The prime reason for the BCCI's unhappiness is the ICC's new financial model, according to which the Indian board receives only $293 million from the ICC's revenues. The ICC chairman Shashank Manohar put an additional $100 million on the negotiating table - an offer that still stands - but the Choudhury refused it. The BCCI wants $570 million, the share it was getting under the previous Big Three model.

Riaz Haq said...

#India's #BCCI's MoU with #Pakistan's #PCB is 'just a letter', not a formal 'contract', claims BCCI. #cricket

https://www.dawn.com/news/1331643

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday indicated that it wants to fulfil the commitment being made under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB), however, the board needs approval from the Indian government before it can play Pakistan in a bilateral series, reported ESPNcricinfo.com.

The BCCI secretary, however, claimed that the MoU was "just a letter" and not a formal "contract" and added that the board wanted to fulfil the commitment because it was written with the intent to do so, provided the government gave the go-ahead.

BCCI Secretary Amitabh Choudhary told ESPNcricinfo.com that no matter what the nature of its agreement with the PCB is, the board needs formal approval from the government.

PCB had sent the BCCI a notice under the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee's terms of reference last week for not fulfilling its commitment in accordance with a MoU signed in 2014.


India and Pakistan have not played a full series — apart from two T20Is and three ODIs in 2012 — since the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which the Indian government blamed on terrorists based out of Pakistan, said the report.

Political relations between the countries remained strained as of today.

"I can assure you that this is a subject where the government has to accord permission," Choudhary said.

"I must inform you that the BCCI has already written to the government in March with regard to the FTP with Pakistan. Unless we hear from them, I cannot make a comment. As far as cricket concerned, if it is a contract, both would try to honour."

When Choudhary was asked if the MoU could be revoked in the absence of government permission, he said: "I don't remember the exact wordings but it is inherent. Honouring of it cannot happen without the government's permission. In any case, it was just a communication, it was just a letter from the secretary of BCCI. So it is not a formal contract as yet."

The BCCI secretary at that time was Sanjay Patel, who could not be reached for a comment.

Rajeev Shukla, the IPL chairman and a former board vice-president, said that the BCCI would not want to play the series at a neutral venue though.

"We have had a consistent policy that we will play on each other's soil," Shukla said. "Pakistan's security situation is not such where you can have a series on their soil. Only Zimbabwe has played a series and no other countries are touring Pakistan. They are not being able to provide adequate security. First you make your venues such where you can provide fool-proof security. And for India, the security concerns are even more. How can we risk our players?"

The PCB's position, however, is that it must host the first series between Pakistan and India, as stated in the MoU. The PCB has hosted its home series largely in the UAE ever since the Sri Lankan team was attacked in Pakistan in 2009.

Talking about the India-West Indies series at a neutral venue, Florida, recently, Shukla said those T20s were a home series for India, and the BCCI had staged the games in the USA to explore a new market.


Riaz Haq said...

Playing for ‘Our Own,’ #Afghanistan’s #Cricket Stars Return Home From #Pakistan as Heroes - http://NYTimes.com

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/world/asia/afghanistan-cricket-fans-leagues-pakistan.html


Cricket has had a remarkable rise in Afghanistan, after its first team was born, more than a decade ago, by players returning home from the dusty parks of a refugee camp in Pakistan. Now Afghanistan’s team consistently ranks in the world’s top 10.

“A very long journey, in a very short time,” said Shukrullah Atif Mashal, chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board. “I think it’s a great example, for all institutions in Afghanistan.”


----------------

There is tremendous money in the game. The International Cricket Council, the sport’s organizing body, gives Afghanistan about $1.4 million a year, around 33 percent of the game’s overall budget, Mr. Mashal said. The rest comes from private sponsors, their willing numbers increasing with the game’s popularity.

----------------


These days, a top national team player could make as much as $10,000 a month, with everything from salary to match fees included, according to Mr. Mashal. That is a large sum in a country where a police officer’s monthly salary is about $200. Then there are private leagues for bonus income. A player like Mr. Shafaq, for example, is paid about $1,000 for a week’s play in a private tournament like this one. Other leagues offer as much as $500 a match.

Some top Afghan players also play for the game’s largest international leagues, in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Caribbean. The talk these days is about two players who were given contracts in the lucrative Indian Premier League, the highest private stage for the game. The Afghan teenage star Rashid Khan got a whopping $600,000 contract, and a veteran, Mohammed Nabi, received $46,000 — all for about six weeks’ play.

Riaz Haq said...

Pakistan news June 2, 2017 Multan becomes sixth Pakistan Super League franchise

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/1100564.html

The Schön Group, a Dubai-based enterprise well-established in the real estate business, has won the rights to the sixth franchise of the Pakistan Super League, and chosen Multan as its team. The deal has been confirmed by the PCB, pending legal formalities, and the contract is for eight years. The Schön Group's owners have roots in Pakistan.

As many as 30 companies, according to the PCB, showed interest in the franchise, with about 12 submitting bids. Out of these bids, only Schön made a bid high enough to meet the base price of USD 5.2 million per year. The highest bidder had the right to choose the base city for the new franchise out of Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA and Hyderabad.

The PCB had been considering adding a sixth team to the tournament after its first season in 2016, but a contract between the PCB and the five franchises meant the expansion could take place only after the second season. The first two seasons of the PSL featured Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.

These original five franchises were sold for USD 93 million for a ten-year period. Karachi became the most expensive team with the ARY Group shelling out USD 26 million to gain ownership. Lahore sold for USD 25 million to Qatar Lubricants Company (QALCO), while the Haier Group paid USD 16 million for Peshawar. The franchise from the capital, Islamabad, went to Leonine Global Sports, which is an entity created specifically for the PSL by a group of Pakistani investors, for USD 15 million. Omar Associate, a Karachi-based building company, secured Quetta for USD 11 million.

In 2016, Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, had floated an idea to have a Kashmir team in the tournament, but it was rejected after opposition from some of the franchises on financial grounds and the potential for controversy given Kashmir's sensitive status vis-a-vis India. The opposition from the franchises back then was centered around the potential cut in their share of the central revenue pool if a sixth franchise were to be created.

Pakistan have been hosting the PSL in the UAE due to the security concerns of the overseas players. However, in 2017, the final was played in Lahore at the Gaddafi stadium amid presidential-style security and went off without incident. Last month, Sethi revealed plans to host as many as eight matches in Pakistan in 2018, with four each to be held in Lahore and Karachi.

Riaz Haq said...

Business Conglomerate Schon Group buys #Pakistan #PSL #Multan #cricket franchise for a hefty $41.6 million

https://www.techjuice.pk/schon-group-buys-psl-multan-for-a-hefty-41-6-million/

One of the richest families of Pakistan, Schon Group has bought the newly added Multan team in Pakistan Super League after successful bid at Pakistan Cricket Board. The Schon Group will be paying a hefty $41.6 million in a period of 8 years for this contract. This acquisition, of $5.2 million per year, turns out to be the biggest one in the history of Pakistan Super League.

Before Multan purchase, of all the PSL teams, Karachi Kings was deemed the biggest sale. It was acquired by Ary Group for $2.6 million per year for a contract spanning a decade.

The bid from Schon Group’s end was led by Asher Schon and Khizer Schon, the sons of renowned business leader from Pakistan and founder of Schon Group, Nasir Schon. Starting off in Singapore in 1982, the peak of Schon group was in 1995 when they owned National Fibres, Schon Bank, Schon Textiles and Pak-China Fertilizers.

Currently, Schon Group is managed by his two sons who look after day-to-day affairs in Dubai HQ. Khizer Schon has recently made several investments in the YCombinator’s technology startups and aims to invest in Pakistani technology businesses through their investment arm Schon Ventures. Schon Ventures is the group investment vehicle which has invested in fitness, transportation, real estate, and technology start-ups.

While speaking at the PSL auction, Asher Schon said,
“We believe we have all the resources available to make this (investment) a successful venture.”

Riaz Haq said...

Pakistan Super League stars credited with Pakistan's Champions Trophy win:

http://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/the-magic-of-pakistan-crickets-revival-how-new-talent-was-unearthed-2-1437549.html


The change of captain, retirement of senior players and induction of talented youngsters into the team at the right time and age and two years of Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Dubai have all contributed.

The last changes in the side (exclusion of Wahab Riaz and Ahmad Shehzad and inclusion of Fakhar Zaman and Junaid Khan) made a difference. All of a sudden the world’s best bowling attack was born, restricting the top four teams (South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and India) to under 250. Gone were the complaints about the game being unfairly dominated by the bat, the scrutiny of bat sizes and 300 being a par score.

Before PSL, the jump from Pakistan’s first class cricket into international cricket was a huge one and many youngsters were found lacking. The PSL changed that. The bright stars of today’s Pakistan’s cricket like Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Sharjeel Khan, Ruman Raees (and many more) were already playing first class cricket in Pakistan. PSL polished them with top international players and coaches and readied them for the international arena.

Pakistan were hopeless at the start of the tournament and actually played like a number eight, which was their ranking when they came in the tournament. But their batting — often considered fragile —managed to post 338 for four with the help of a fabulous century by Fakhar Zaman who amassed 114 off 106 balls.

Zaman, who is a Mardan born and averages over 50 in 50 overs cricket, finished the tournament as he highest run getter for Pakistan after making most of his luck when he edged one off Jasprit Bumrah only to see that the bowler had overstepped.

Pakistan had gone 35 ODIs without a century stand before the semi-finals but Fakhar in partnership with Azhar Ali stitched back to back 100-run opening stands.

Pakistan’s comeback in the tournament was largely due to Fakhar’s effort at the top. It is remarkable that the left-handed opening batsman now has two 50s and a hundred in first four ODIs of his career.

India captain Virat Kohli in the press conference admitted that their plans didn’t work against Fakhar, even though the batsman was playing high risk shots.

Pakistan cricket is often termed mercurial however their four back to back wins have proved that they can be consistent performers too.

A nation that was written off before the start of the tournament managed to win hearts with the spirit of the youth.

Hasan Ali, the player of the tournament, took thirteen wickets which is joint-most with West Indies' Jerome Taylor in a one edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.

“I dedicate this victory to my mother who always fasts whenever I am playing," said Hasan after the victory.

He demonstrated an intelligent cricketing mind by using his pace variations and took regular wickets in the middle overs against South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and India.

Pakistan are often criticised for their lack of structure but have always been a team of momentum. If history is anything to go by their wins in tournaments have come at the back of peaking at the right time.

Junaid got eight wickets in the tournament and proved to be a great new ball user along with Mohammad Amir. He also played a vital role in the middle over by giving breakthroughs and containing runs.

Ahmed Shehzad, who is looking a completely different batsman from what he was four years ago, was replaced by Zaman.

Zaman was streaky in the beginning against India with a lot of top edges but overcame his troubles to played a brave knock. He became the first Pakistan batsman to score 100 in the final of an ICC event.

The left-hander was previously part of the Pakistan Navy. He has taken a liking to left arm spinners and as a first class player demonstrated his command over them when he smashed Ravindera Jadeja to all parts of the ground.

Riaz Haq said...

ICC revenue sharing

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/40374596

India will receive almost a quarter of the total cash handed out by cricket's world governing body after challenging initial attempts to reduce their share.

The BCCI will receive $405m (£319m) over the cycle of 2016 to 2023 - three times more than England's $139m (£110m), the second largest share.

The International Cricket Council's board had voted 13-1 in favour of India being allocated $293m (£227m) in April.

That led to reports India were planning to boycott the Champions Trophy.

After the vote - on proposals for a new financial model intended to redistribute revenue more equally - the BCCI missed the deadline to name a squad for the tournament.

A team was later selected, with India eventually losing in the final to Pakistan, but a BCCI statement explaining the delay said its secretary Amitabh Choudhary would continue to negotiate with the ICC, adding that it was "keeping its legal options open".

The changes to the ICC's revenue distribution model, ratified by its full council on Thursday, will see South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand and West Indies receive $128m (£101m) each, while Zimbabwe will receive $94m (£74m).

Ireland and Afghanistan, who on Thursday were granted Test status, will share $240m (£189m) of funding with the ICC's associate members.

Analysis

by BBC sports news correspondent Joe Wilson

There is a logic in some circles of Indian cricket which runs; 'if we generate 70% of income in the global game, shouldn't we get 70% of the revenue?'

It's an argument the ICC has had to confront, keeping India on board while trying to ensure some equity in financial distribution. After all, it is a global game (even if India - and the IPL in particular - is in a world of its own with a global marketplace within its own borders).

Thus it was back in April that the ICC board voted in a financial package that saw India take $293m over the next cycle. Discontent followed, as did mutterings of not participating in the Champions Trophy.

Now the compromise gives them $405m, which is significantly more, but nowhere near the figure approaching $600m hardliners may have wanted. Where does the extra money to distribute to India come from? After all, the ICC now has two new full members to fund.

Well, Ireland and Afghanistan will see their income increased dramatically but will still be a long way behind Zimbabwe. If not in cricketing terms, then in finances.

Emmanuel Thapa said...

Pakistan became a center of political, social, and economic problems. There are downturns in many aspects. You can simply point out regression wherever one goes within the country.Pakistan cricket authorities have determined to appoint Taimoor Ali Khan as a sports man of science for the national team before their tourney campaign in European nation.

Taimoor has been apparently suggested by the national team’s bowling coach Azhar Mahmood.

He has been appointed until could eleven to be with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan team which can be a departure for the European nation on Gregorian calendar month twenty-three to play some apply games against English counties, a T20 international and 5 ODIs against the European nation before tourney applies games begun.

“Taimoor are going to be operating with the players on the mental side of making ready for a mega-event just like the tourney and if needed the board will extend his contract for the planet Cup except for currently, he is going to be with the team till eleventh could,” a reliable supply within the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Cricket Board aforementioned.

This is not the primary time that the Pakistani cricket authorities have wanted the assistance of a professional sportsman of science to figure with the players.

Taimoor conjointly worked with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan team throughout the recent one-day series against Australia within the UAE.

“He was with the players for the 5 matches and command sessions with most of the players together with batter, Umar Akmal,” the supply aforementioned.

In the past, sports psychologists are employed to possess message sessions with nonconformist players like Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal World Health Organization despite their proved talent haven't established themselves within the national team because of different problems like perspective, discipline and game sense.

“The PCB is hoping that the sports psychologist’s presence can facilitate the players prepare mentally for the planet Cup and he can have ample time to carry sessions with the players,” the supply aforementioned.

The national selectors' area unit because of announcing the planet Cup squad on Gregorian calendar month eighteen once fitness tests however indications area unit that the selectors {will also|also can|will} name 3 reserve players World Health Organization will jaunt the European nation with the team.

Riaz Haq said...

#India #BCCI threatening total boycott of #international #cricket players who participate in #Kashmir Premier League #KPL2021 in #AzadKashmir. Several, including @hershybru (#SouthAfrica) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (#SriLanka), are defying Indians. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/7/31/indian-board-warning-players-against-kashmir-cricket-tournament

Former international cricketers are being threatened and warned by the Indian cricket board against taking part in the inaugural Kashmir Premier League (KPL) cricket tournament, organisers and players have said.

The KPL is scheduled to start from August 6 in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and will be contested by six teams captained by Pakistan’s current and former cricketers – Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim.

On Saturday, former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs tweeted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) warned him against taking part in the league which has been sanctioned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“Completely unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the @kpl_20. Also threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous,” Gibbs said on Twitter.

“The @BCCI warning cricket boards that if there former players took part in Kashmir Premier League, they won’t be allowed entry in India or allowed to work in Indian cricket at any level or in any capacity,” Latif said.

The BCCI did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

No Pakistan player has played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inaugural season in 2008, while Indian players have not been allowed to take part in any foreign Twenty20 league, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Pakistan Cricket Board has expressed its displeasure over reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has called multiple ICC Members and forced them to withdraw their retired cricketers from the Kashmir Premier League.

In a statement on Saturday, the PCB said “it considers that the BCCI has brought the game into disrepute by issuing warnings to multiple ICC Members to stop their retired cricketers from featuring in the Kashmir Premier League”.

“Such conduct from the BCCI is completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket and sets a dangerous precedence, which can neither be tolerated nor ignored,” the statement added. “The PCB will raise this matter at the appropriate ICC forum and also reserves the right to take any further action that is available to us within the ICC charter.”

Riaz Haq said...

ICC dismisses #India’s request against #Kashmir Premier League (#KPL). #ICC’s response came after the Board for Control of #Cricket in India (#BCCI) asked the international governing body to take action against the tournament supported by #Pakistan #PCB. https://www.samaafm.com/blog/sports/icc-dismisses-indias-request-against-kashmir-premier-league/

International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed India’s request against KPL. According to International Cricket Council, it has no jurisdiction over Kashmir Premier League (KPL), as it’s not an international cricket tournament.

ICC’s response came after the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) approached the governing body to take action against the tournament.

Caution from BCCI for the players for Kashmir Premier League
Prior, BCCI had cautioned and undermined international players partaking in the tournament that they won’t be permitted to participate in any cricketing related activities in India.

BCCI then approached ICC and asked them to drop the tournament based on matches being played in the disputed area.

The BCCI letter to International Cricket Council
BCCI in their letter to ICC asserted that Kashmir is a disputed domain; henceforth no matches in such regions ought to have ICC’s endorsement. Nonetheless, ICC doesn’t have any guidelines and regulations against matches in disputed regions. It should be noticed that India has recently played two ODIs in Srinagar, which is in Indian involved Kashmir and is a disputed region.

A domestic league on a disputed territory
Moreover, domestic leagues like KPL require endorsement from the nation’s board, which for this situation is PCB. ICC’s guideline in regards to the endorsement of an occasion, condition 2.1.3, obviously expresses that every national cricket organization will have the sole and selective right to authorize the arranging of domestic matches inside its territory. PCB has effectively approved KPL, which is planned from August 6-16, 2021, in Muzaffarabad.

Furthermore, on Friday, former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs had slammed BCCI for trying to stop him from participating in KPL.

“Completely unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me from playing in the KPL. Also threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket-related work. Ludicrous,” Gibbs tweeted.


Moreover, former England spinner, Monty Panesar, pulled out of KPL after reportedly receiving threats from BCCI. After denying him entry to India for cricket-related work in the future if he participates in the league.

“I have decided not to participate in the KPL because of the political tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir issues. I don’t want to be in the middle of this, it would make me feel uncomfortable,” Panesar tweeted.

Riaz Haq said...

PCB declares Rs.3.8 billion profit in 2019-20 fiscal year

https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/news/detail/pcb-declares-rs38-billion-profit-in-2019-20-fiscal-year

The PCB audited financial statements 2019-20 will be posted on the PCB’s corporate website in due course
The Board of Governors of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held their 59th meeting at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore on Monday.The BoG approved the audited financial statements 2019-20, which included an after-tax-profit of Rs.3.8 billion. The PCB reserves now stand at Rs.17.08 billion as compared to PKR13.28billion in the 2018-19 financial year.The PCB audited financial statements 2019-20 will be posted on the PCB’s corporate website in due course.Separately, PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan briefed the BoG that the board had exceeded the Rs.24 million projections by selling the 2020-21 domestic season inventory for Rs.34 million, a rise of Rs.11.5 million from the 2019-20 season.With discussions for title sponsorship of the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament underway, the PCB expects to touch the Rs.40 million mark.

Riaz Haq said...

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has annual revenue of $55 million.


https://crickettipmaster.com/richest-cricket-boards-in-the-world/

With a net worth of $2 billion (approximately 14,686.4 crore rupees in INR), the BCCI remains the world’s richest cricket board. The top three richest boards are the BCCI, CSA, and ECB. Here is a list of the revenues of the five richest cricket boards in 2021.

Cricket is one of the most well-known sports. Among the fanfare of football, rugby, tennis, and badminton, the gentlemen’s game has grown in stature and reputation around the world, with particular popularity in the subcontinent and active cricket-playing nations.

All cricket boards around the world make a lot of money when their national cricket teams play against other countries. The boards also run various cricketing leagues, the most popular of which is the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is currently the second rank on the list, with reported revenue of $79 Million. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) comes in 3rd with annual revenue of $59 Million.

Curiously, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ranks fourth on the list, with $55 Million in revenue. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is 5th on the list & earns a total of $51 Million.

Riaz Haq said...

It’s probably heresy to even think it, but could the Pakistan Super League, a six-year-old six-team domestic competition, be the world’s strongest Twenty20 nursery?


by Malcolm Knox

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/homegrown-pakistan-enter-t20-cricket-s-premier-league-20221110-p5bx0x.html

Orthodox logic says no. Of course the Indian Premier League, the all-star pageant that claims to be cricket’s NBA, NFL and Champions League rolled in together, has raised the income of every participant and the standard of the 20-over format as a whole.

Innovation in cricket has been turbocharged by the IPL, where the best of the best are challenged to produce their best, under pressure, in an annual whirlwind of noise, music and dollars. If you’re not in the IPL, as Paul Keating might say, you’re camping out.

And yet the young Pakistan team, none of whom are permitted to play in the IPL, came up with another performance, this time in Wednesday’s T20 World Cup semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground against New Zealand, to suggest that the IPL is not, or not exclusively, where it’s at.

Whether it was Shadab Khan’s brilliant direct-hit run out of Devon Conway, the clever and varied bowling from the four-man pace attack, or the spin craft of Shadab and Mohammad Nawaz, Pakistan again proved that they play their Twenty20 cricket better than just about anyone on the globe. To cap it off, their two best-credentialed batters, openers Babar Azam (53 off 42 balls) and Mohammad Rizwan (57 off 43), finally opened the valves and set up a convincing victory. In the end, they were steered home by Mohammad Haris (30 off 26), one of their four under-23 youth picks, who has only played his cricket inside Pakistan and a mere 25 PSL games at that. On Sunday, Haris will bat at first-drop in a World Cup final.


All 11 of the star-studded New Zealand team have IPL experience; none of the Pakistanis. Due to India’s ban on Pakistan players, which has been in force since the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008, the IPL’s first year, Babar’s team have had to grow their T20 nous either by finding gigs in Twenty20 leagues around the world or purely inside Pakistan.

Their youngest members of the current squad possess a tiny fraction of the T20 experience of their opponents in this World Cup. A few weeks ago, in the highlight of the tournament, Pakistan outplayed India’s galacticos for 39 of 40 overs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Their eclipse of the Kiwis brought to mind those old rugby league games when NSW Country came to town and, on this same patch of turf, towelled up the City glamour boys. When they do get a bit more exposure to this T20 caper, Pakistan will be pretty good.

Their most effective bowlers on Wednesday were left-arm beanpole Shaheen Shah Afridi (2/24 from four overs), the evergreen Haris Rauf (0/32) and teenager Naseem Shah (0/30). Rauf has played some BBL for the Melbourne Stars, Afridi nothing outside the PSL, Naseem only PSL plus a season in the Caribbean league.

As with several of their teammates, they are IPL squillionaires only in their dreams. Without the new-ball swing they have enjoyed in other venues, they tied down the strong Kiwi top order with excellent control of their lengths, a mixture of cutters and slower balls, and game plans as precisely tailored as if they knew the batters from years in the IPL.

The fielding – also brought up almost entirely on PSL fields - was as athletic as any seen in the tournament so far. Kane Williamson (46 off 42 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (53 not out off 35) batted only as well as the Pakistanis allowed, which is to say, more watchfully than they would have wished. New Zealand kept wickets in hand but were unable to convert them into runs.

Riaz Haq said...

It’s probably heresy to even think it, but could the Pakistan Super League, a six-year-old six-team domestic competition, be the world’s strongest Twenty20 nursery?


by Malcolm Knox

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/homegrown-pakistan-enter-t20-cricket-s-premier-league-20221110-p5bx0x.html


For a semi-final, it was surprisingly one-sided. Pakistan outclassed New Zealand as thoroughly as New Zealand had outclassed Australia here in the tournament opener last month and, like that game, this one was decided early. This coming Sunday in Melbourne, whether they end up playing IPL-rich India or IPL-rich England, Pakistan have a chance to make their point in the most definitive way.

So what gives? Pakistan won a T20 World Cup in 2009, before 13 years of IPL exclusion set in. Now they have a chance to win their second, against India or England. Does Pakistan’s quality suggest that the IPL is not quite the cut above the rest that it ought to be, or has the PSL snuck beneath world cricket’s radar to be, pound for pound and rupee for rupee, the best school for this form of cricket?

As long as India maintains its political ban on Pakistan players, the question will remain unanswered. International players, including Australians, who have participated in the PSL have been saying quietly for a few years that the cricket there is on par with the IPL. As thousands of Pakistan fans kept standing in lines outside the SCG long after the start of play can testify, they have had to learn how to wait and to be cut out of the magic circle; and while waiting, to make their sport in their own way. Once they got in, both on the field and off, they were the dominant presence.

Riaz Haq said...

Since introduction of IPL, India have never won a T20 World Cup: Wasim Akram
Akram also raised the question that if Indian players played another overseas league in addition to the IPL, if that will make a difference in their approach.

https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/since-introduction-of-ipl-india-have-never-won-a-t20-world-cup-wasim-akram-8261490/

After India were demolished by England by 10 wickets in their semifinal clash in Adelaide Oval, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram pointed out the fact that since the introduction of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Men in Blue have never won a T20 World Cup.

“Everyone thought the IPL will be the big difference between India and other teams. IPL started in 2008. India won a T20 World Cup before that in 2007. Since the advent of the IPL, India have never won a T20 World Cup. They won a World Cup in 2011 but that’s 50 overs,” Akram said on A Sports.

India were eliminated from the Group stages in the last T20 World Cup in 2021 and earlier this year, they couldn’t make it to the last stages of the Asia Cup.

Akram also raised the question that if Indian players played another overseas league in addition to the IPL, if that will make a difference in their approach.

Giving is take on the matter, fellow panelist Shoaib Malik said, “Yeah it makes a difference but IPL is big enough for young players to gain that exposure. But playing in different conditions, that actually makes a difference. As a overseas player if you go and play somewhere, they put extra responsibility on your shoulders. So that what matters, where you become a good player. You think to yourself that as an overseas player, the performances I am putting in should be up to the mark. Secondly, you share dressing rooms with world class players and you learn from their work ethics. How they are so consistent so I guess there are so many elements which make a difference.”

Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis said, “When the stakes are high, the pressure is also high. I feel IPL is a mega event. There’s a lot of tings at stake. Big businessmen are involved. So it’s a huge company. When you play in a mega event like that, there’s an added pressure on you when you go to play internationally. Then when you reach the knockout stages, that burden you feel on your shoulders. It was visible here, it was visible the time they played with Pakistan in the UAE as well as the Asia Cup. They took pressure and couldn’t really move on wit the game. The freedom that they play with in the IPL, it does now show here. Rahul, Rohit, Virat, they all have centuries but today it looked like they were in a shell.”

“The biggest point, however, is that the indian batters could only take 41 runs off the England spinners, including a part time spinner in 7 overs. Nobody could really take them on. I couldn’t see any cross shots even though the boundary was not that long. They were just worried. They should thank Hardik Pandya who scored runs very quickly down the order. Without that India would ptrobably not reach even 120 runs,” he added.

Riaz Haq said...

#England thrash sorry India to set up #T20worldcup22 final against #Pakistan. #English openers took on world’s best-supported & most lavishly resourced side and toyed with them like a cat might a ball of wool, making them look approximately as threatening. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/10/england-thrash-india-to-reach-t20-world-cup-final-against-pakistan-cricket?CMP=share_btn_tw


Pakistan await in Melbourne on Sunday, and will not have enjoyed what they saw of their opponents here. England reached 170 with all 10 wickets and four overs to spare, Hales (who scored 86 off 47) and Buttler (80 off 49) producing not just the largest but in any sense you like the greatest opening partnership in England’s Twenty20 history. By the end India were a rabble, their performance summed up by England completing an all-run four, vanishingly rare in this format, after Mohammed Shami fielded and tried to toss the ball to a teammate but missed, and by Suryakumar Yadav racing back from mid-off and not only failing to catch Buttler but managing instead to shovel the ball a further 10 yards to the rope.

Poor Phil Salt, scheduled to come in at No 3 but not required. Having watched every game so far from the sidelines he was chosen to replace Dawid Malan, but still had to watch most of the game from the sidelines. It is impossible now to dispute England’s decision to favour Hales as opener, and since they reached a position of having to win every remaining match he has scored 52, 47 and now 86 at an average strike rate of 158. This was a remarkably controlled innings, in which he scored at great pace but appeared in no hurry, and his best shots were not only stylish in their execution but impeccable in their timing. India for example would have hoped to use their spinners to control England’s run rate but twice, against Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin, Hales disabused them of that idea by sending a slog-sweep into the crowd.

Buttler meanwhile had promised to show no fear of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, against whom he previously had a notably poor record. He scored 13 runs off the seven balls he faced from the 32-year-old, cracking three fours off the bowler’s first over, and after his second ended with Hales dancing down the wicket to hit over long-off for six Kumar was sent to field on the boundary, never to return. Once the finish line hoved into view Buttler sprinted for it; after scoring 45 off his first 34 deliveries, he added 35 off his last 15, including the six that ended it.

The ground that witnessed England’s worst moment in white-ball cricket, against Bangladesh in 2015, thus witnessed what stands perhaps just the 2019 World Cup final away from their finest. This was a night when a side that had not really reached top gear at any stage in this tournament suddenly went supersonic.

Though Virat Kohli scored another half-century it was Hardik Pandya, with a 33-ball 63, who was most responsible for hauling India to what appeared a reasonable total with a string of boundaries towards the end of their innings – and there would have been one more had he not stepped into the stumps while powering the last ball towards the rope. But rather than striking terror into England, his innings inspired only hope – Buttler said afterwards that Pandya had just “showed what a good wicket it was”.

Riaz Haq said...

Pakistani players have a had a great 2021 specially in the shortest format of the game. Keeping this in view, there are numerous Pakistani cricketers who were offered contracts from multiple Big Bash League franchises. Pakistan dominated this year in T20I Cricket setting a new record of most wins in T20Is in a calendar year. Although the mainstream stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not expected to feature in BBL, there are still many other Pakistani stars who will play BBL 2021-22. Following are their details:

https://www.crickyupdates.com/pakistani-players-in-big-bash-league-2021-22-bbl/

Sydney Sixers have reportedly signed Shadab Khan from Pakistan. Although an official announcement is awaited but sources close to Shadab Khan have revealed that he is all set to play for the defending champions. Shadab has already departed for Australia. Shadab Khan is the vice-captain of Pakistan’s T20I Side. He has picked up 20 wickets in T20Is in 2021 averaging just 19 with the ball.

Melbourne Stars:
Melbourne Stars have signed the most no of Pakistani bowlers this year. Death bowling specialist Haris Rauf will be seen in action for Melbourne Stars. Rauf is the joint highest wicket taker for Pakistan in T20Is this year. Melbourne Stars have had a great relation with PSL Franchise Lahore Qalandars. They have some sort of partnership which benefit both the teams. Melbourne also signed two emerging stars from Pakistan. Syed Faridoun and Ahmed Daniyal. Both are the finds of Lahore Qalandars’ player development program. Ahmed Daniyal has featured in PSL as well while Syed Faridoun is completely raw.

Sydney Thunder:
Sydney Thunder offered a contract to express pacer from Pakistan Mohammad Hasnain. Hasnain is not in such great form or rhythm. He was axed form the Pakistan’s World T20 squad and his recent numbers are not satisfactory either. Yet Sydney have shown faith in the young pacer and Hasnain will be seen playing for Sydney Thunder.

Riaz Haq said...

#India’s #Cricket Bat Business in Danger Due to Shortage of Willow Trees. #Indian bats are made from willow trees grown in #Indian Occupied Kashmir. They are much cheaper than the #English bats. 70% of bats sold in the world are made in #Kashmir https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/6874620.html

The best cricket bats in the world are made in England and India from willow trees. A bat is the long stick cricket players use to hit the ball.

The bats from India are in especially high demand. That is because they are much less costly than the English bats.

Bats from India cost between $50 and $500, while the ones made in England cost three to four times more.

The bat factories are in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir and they employ about 100,000 people.

The area makes about 3 million bats each year. The factories have customers in 125 countries. The cricket bat business brings in about $12 million to the Indian economy. The Kashmir bats make up about 70 percent of the world market because of their lower cost.

Many of the area’s factories, however, have closed because of a serious lack of willow trees.

As Indian-made bats became more popular around the world, more and more willow trees were cut down. New willow trees were not planted to replace them. Wood farmers chose to grow different kinds of wood that grow more quickly than willow trees.

Mohammad Shafi Dar is 55 years old. He is one of the skilled workers involved in making cricket bats. He takes a piece of willow and cuts it with a motorized saw. He then passes it on to another worker for the next part of the bat-making process.

Dar followed his father into the business when he was a young man. He told VOA that, for the first time, he is worried about losing his job.

“In the last couple of years,” he said, “bat production has decreased.” He said about six workers recently lost their jobs at his factory.

On the main highway that connects Kashmir with the main part of India, there are 400 cricket bat factories. Drivers see the pieces of willow trees gathered along the road. Fifty of the factories have closed because they do not have the wood they need.

The workers who lose their jobs do not have many other choices for work. Dar said they can become day laborers, work in agriculture or become sand diggers.

Fayaz Ahmad Dar is president of the Kashmir Cricket Bat Manufacturers Union. He said the willow tree shortage started about five years ago. He said the business is almost “extinct due to complete negligence.” Area factories, he said, receive just half the supply they used to.

Ahmad Dar said the tree-growers in the area are planting cottonwood and poplar. Wood from those trees can be used in making plywood, which is used in the building industry. Those trees grow faster and their wood can be sold sooner. The willow trees grow more slowly.

Ahmad Dar said he has talked with the director of commerce and industries for the Kashmir area. He told her about cricket’s growth around the world and how important the area’s factories are for the sport.

Ahmad Dar said he asked that the government set aside land that could only be used for planting willow trees so that Kashmir’s cricket bat business can survive.

After the meeting, the Sher-e-Kashmir University’s department of agriculture sent the bat manufacturers 1,500 small willow trees to plant.

Ahmad Dar, however, said that was not nearly enough. The bat-makers need many more trees than that. He said just one bat company needs the wood from 10,000 to 15,000 trees each year in order to meet demand.

Riaz Haq said...

6 Most Expensive Cricket Bats 2022 by Popular Brands | DESIblitz


https://www.desiblitz.com/content/6-most-expensive-cricket-bats-2022-by-popular-brands

This is one of most supreme expensive cricket bats handcraft made in Pakistan from super English willow, with more 10 + straight 9+ grains. It is a world-class professional player bat, with excellent craftsmanship.

Special attention is noticeable in the sculpt of every corner and edge. The bat does not have a sticker, but instead has CA laser carving.

The CA Sports emblem is sealed on grip. A unique number is visible on the face of each bat. The toe guard part of the bat uses nothing less than Glass Protek Technology, which is good for all weather conditions.

The stylistic and innovative bat with exemplary weight balance is a creation for power hitters. Reviewing the bat through a YouTube video, Wasiq from Wasiq Sports says:

“This willow is outstanding. The pick up up is really good.”

This long lasting bat costs close to the £700 price point. Many international cricketers play the sport with a CA bat.

Riaz Haq said...

India And Pakistan Renew Cricket’s Biggest Rivalry In Financial Windfall For Asia Cup
Tristan Lavalette


https://www.forbes.com/sites/tristanlavalette/2023/08/30/india-and-pakistan-renew-crickets-biggest-rivalry-in-financial-windfall-for-asia-cup/?sh=39c7acdb63e2

You don't even have to look at the fixtures to know that bitter rivals India and Pakistan will play each other at the upcoming Asia Cup, which starts on Wednesday in Multan, Pakistan.

"The entire monetization of the (Asia Cup) broadcast is based on this one match between India and Pakistan,” Asian cricket Council head of commercial and events Prabhakaran Thanraj told me last year.

“The men's Asia Cup is where almost all the funds come from for the ACC. Monetization will help put funds back into cricket.”

With so much at stake, it's understandable that Pakistan and India have been scheduled to meet on September 2 in Kandy. Given the intense political differences between the nuclear-armed countries, which has stalled cricket's most passionate rivalry, the blockbuster contest could not be played in host nation Pakistan.

According to sources, security concerns in Pakistan were too great as India refused to tour ensuring another round of warring between the foes.

There had been talk of Pakistan losing its hosting rights - and they fired back by threatening to boycott the upcoming World Cup in India - with ever reliable neutral terrain of UAE considered as an alternative.

Eventually, common sense prevailed as a compromise was struck with Pakistan to retain hosting duties but nine of the 13 matches will be played in Sri Lanka, including all of India's games and the final on September 17.


The six-team Asia Cup will be divided into two groups with the top two teams in each go to a Super Four before the final in Colombo. There is a chance India and Pakistan will meet three times in the tournament in what will be an obvious money-spinner every time they meet.

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Their games conjure record broadcast ratings and surreal scenes such as when they last played during the unforgettable contest at last year's T20 World Cup in front of 90,000 fans in Melbourne.

There is such an appetite - not just from Indian and Pakistani fans - but the entire cricket world when these rare matches take place.

Due to the heated political situation, India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series in a decade. A generation of their players have missed out on playing Test cricket against each other and a resumption is unlikely any time soon.

The scarcity, while such a travesty, does mean the anticipation is magnified every time these cricket-mad countries meet on the field. You can't blame the ACC for milking it and the benefits are enormous for the Asian region.

Established in 1983, the ACC’s goal is to develop and promote cricket in Asia while fostering better relations with its 25 member nations. A key role is to organize the Asia Cup - its marquee event - which was generally played biennially until 2018.

Under a rebrand, with all-powerful India cricket boss Jay Shah taking charge, the Asia Cup will be held annually interchanging between T20 and ODI formats. This year's event will be the 50-over format in what is seen as a perfect tune-up ahead of the ODI World Cup.

Next year's event will revert back to the T20 format in the aftermath of the T20 World Cup in the U.S. and Caribbean.

According to sources, India and Bangladesh are favorites to host the event which would again be played in August/September - as the Asia Cup has carved out precious real estate in cricket's increasingly congested calendar.

With a financial windfall guaranteed, as all eyes focus on India and Pakistan, the Asia Cup has become a major annual event while strengthening the region as the game's dominant force.