Karachi:
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Shaharyar Khan has said that the PCB is counting on its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Cricket Board to be implemented to earn maximum revenues from its sale of media rights.
He also told a news conference in Lahore today after returning from India that he was not given any “Lollipop” by the Indian board with regards to Pakistan hosting India in December as part of the MOU between the two boards.
“There is a slight problem in us trying to sell our media rights for next five years but I feel that as soon as we get green signal to play the series in December from the governments it will be a big help to us in selling the media rights for the right price,” Khan said.
The former career diplomat was in India for the last five days to meet with the new Indian cricket chief, Jagmohan Dalmiya and other functionaries of the ruling BJP government to discuss the MOU.
“I went there to get confirmation for the MOU as we have to play the first series in December in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
“I can say I have come back satisfied with the response I got. There was no Lollipop given to me and only ground realities were discussed. The response from the BJP functionaries like Arun Jaitley and Anurag Thakur whom I met was very good but they need permission from their government,” Khan added.
“I will also be meeting with our foreign secretary soon to brief him about my visit to India. But generally speaking the scenario appears to be positive for the series to go ahead on schedule.
“The feeling is there from both sides that sporting exchanges and people to people contact between both countries need to be encouraged.”
