Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja has said that the board can collapse if neighbors India want as the ICC, the governing body of world cricket, receives 90% of funding from that country and it means world cricket is run by Indian business houses.
Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial affairs on Thursday in Islamabad, Ramiz said it was time for the PCB to reduce its dependence on funding from the ICC and start tapping the local market.
“The ICC is a politicized body divided between the Asian and Western blocs and 90 percent of its revenues are generated from India. It is frightening. In a way, India’s business houses are running Pakistan cricket and if tomorrow the Indian PM decides he will not allow any funding to Pakistan, this cricket board can collapse,” the PCB chief said, adding that 50 percent of PCB’s budget comes from ICC funding.
Ramiz further said that the ICC has become an event management company and PCB needs to become stronger to get its voice heard as to not have a repeat of cancellation of confirmed series by New Zealand and England on security grounds.
“What New Zealand did was unacceptable because till now they have not shared any information with us on what led them to abandon the series in Pakistan. But they are now trying to reschedule the series,” he said.
Senior Senator Raza Rabbani suggested that Pakistan should now not play against New Zealand and refuse any series but Ramiz pointed out that this would not be possible as the country is part of a larger international cricket community.
Ramiz, in a candid briefing to the Senators, also said he would unveil his plans for Pakistan cricket and the board in a week or 10 days’ time.
“To me, it is simple if the national team cannot do well and win matches it means that everyone in the board from the tea man to the top official have failed in their duties,” he said.
(PTI inputs)
