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The Pakistan Seniors Cricket Board (PSCB), which is a registered body with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) but functions independently, has hit a financial bonanza with the organisation of the home series against the Indian Seniors but it is also having to dish out lucrative amounts to top players to convince them to play in the series.

According to the details gathered by this correspondent the main sponsors of the four-match series, Wateen Telecom, are paying the PSCB Rs 2.5 million sponsorship money while another two million has come from Habib Bank.

The PSCB has also sold the gate money rights to Pakistan Customs cricket academy for Rs 500,000 each for the four games while they are charging 30,000 for the advertising boards inside the stadium as all the matches are being telecast live by the Pakistan Television (PTV).

“The PSCB roughly is making around 7 to 7.5 million rupees from the series but its main expenses include part payment to the PTV for showing the matches, payment for hiring the BBCL as event and media managers and it has had to pay lucrative fees to convince the top players to take part in the series,” a source said.

He said the Indian captain, apart from receiving some fees from the Indian Seniors Cricket Board, was also getting paid 100,000 for each game while the local organisers have also provided hospitality for his wife and children.

“Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad demanded one million to play in all four matches while Ejaz Ahmed, who will play in the third or fourth game, wants 100,000 rupees per appearance,” the source said.

The PSCB chief Fawad Ejaz had said the board was paying the players in the slabs of 15,000, 25,000 and 50,000.

But the source said even former captain Aamer Sohail had initially demanded a total payment of 300,000 for four matches but then agreed to 200,000 despite suffering a loss as he was offered around 10,000 dollars to do commentary in Abu Dhabi in the ongoing EuroAsia cup.

“Aamer will now apparently join the commentary team for the last five or six days of the tournament there,” the source said.

Source: The News

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