Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has said that the PCB had been approached by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the purpose of rescheduling the home series against Pakistan.
Speaking before the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-provincial Coordination on Thursday, Ramiz Raja said that positive news would be released within a week.
Ramiz was asked by the committee chairman Raza Rabanni about the possibility of declining New Zealand’s offer of rescheduling the series, to which he replied, “We have to live with them and it won’t be a wise idea to do so.”
The PCB chairman insisted that the tour would now go ahead on the term decided by Pakistan. “The PCB may present its terms to the NZC by selecting November 2022 as the rescheduled month for the recently postponed series,” said Ramiz Raja.
He told the committee that the International Cricket Council (ICC) contributed 50 percent of Pakistan’s cricket financing, while India provided 90 percent of the ICC money.
Ramiz Raja insisted on developing a cricketing economy. Raja stated that the PCB will earn revenue not only for itself but also for the ICC in the future.
The PCB chairman is now engaging with various business leaders around the nation in order to increase investment in Pakistan cricket.
Ramiz was not happy with the cricket’s fraternity after NZC’s abrupt cancellation of the recent tour. He said that no one came forward to help Pakistan cricket in the difficult time despite the fact that Pakistan had always been on the front foot whenever it came to help others. Even during the Covid-19 epidemic, the national team travelled to several countries, he added.
He also discussed other forthcoming series that Pakistan would host, saying that the PCB intended to arrange the tri-series with the West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka on a regular basis at home, which would “help to establish a bloc against powerful cricket boards”.
“The Windies Cricket Board is enthusiastic about travelling to Pakistan in December 2021, so the Aussies will be compelled to reconsider travelling to Pakistan in February 2021,” he added.
Raja also thanked the English media by mentioning former England test captain Mike Atherton, who spoke out against the England Cricket Board’s unfairness to Pakistan cricket.
During the briefing, the PCB chairman emphasised the need of correcting the system, highlighting the fact that domestic players’ pay had been increased already.
“Pakistan Zindabad is the sole message I want to offer to our team because there can’t be a greater slogan for us than Pakistan Zindabad,” Raja remarked when asked what message he would like to send to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup side.
