Even as the Pakistan side continues its preparations for the all-important tour in England, the country's cricket board, PCB, is finding it a struggle to rope in an official team sponsor in one of the major impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Negotiations were continuing with the one multi-national beverage company, a well-placed source in the PCB told PTI, which had shown interest in signing a new team logo sponsorship deal. But the deal wasn't finalised, as the company offered a signing amount that is below the expected levels of the board's marketing team. 

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"The PCB's deal with the beverage company expired recently and the board invited fresh bids for the national team's main logo sponsorship deal but no one submitted any bids except for the same beverage company," the source said. 

"It is a problem but negotiations are still on but it is becoming clear that the coronavirus outbreak has even hit the multinational companies badly," the source added, informing that the company that was negotiated offered only 35 to 40 per cent of the amount it had earlier paid to the board as per the last contract deal. 

The marketing department of the PCB is also scratching its head on how to find a sustainable sponsorship deal for its rejigged domestic set-up. 

The board had last year done away with the departmental sides and adopted a six-team based regional structure, which means the governing body becomes solely responsible for bearing all expenses for running of the sides, at least until they are self-operational through ripe outside investment. 

Problems are also being faced in finding a new television broadcaster for home international fixtures after the end of the four-year deal with Ten Sports recently. 

"The situation is not very good and things will only improve once this Covid-19 pandemic ends and the market gains confidence," a marketing analyst said.

It is hoped that the PCB will get a new team sponsor on board before the beginning of the series in England on August 5. On failing to do which, however, it is expected that the players' salaries will take a hit, considering they receive a significant percentage of the total annual amount received by the board from sponsorship deals. 

(Inputs from PTI)