Pakistan Cricket Board sells title rights of 'home series' for USD 1.3 million

The Pakistan Cricket Board has managed to sell the title and ground rights of its forthcoming "home" series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates for close to USD 1.3 million.

The PCB will this week open tenders for the sale of broadcasting rights of the two series.

In a meeting of the Governing Board held in Lahore under the Chairmanship of caretaker chief Najam Sethi, the Board confirmed the appointment of a foreign audit firm, M/s Ernest and Young to monitor the entire process of awarding of broadcasting rights for the two series.

Some officials have raised objections to the role of Sethi as caretaker Chairman in the bidding process for the media rights as he is affiliated with a leading media group who is also among the bidders.

"Yes, some individuals have raised this issue but today at the Governing Board meeting it was made very clear the Chairman will have no role to play in the entire bidding process," a Board source said.

He said it was for this reason that not only had the Board appointed Ernest and Young as independent auditors to monitor the whole process but also formed a bid committee, comprising among others former ICC Chairman Ehsan Mani and Justice Shabbir Hussain Rizvi.

The PCB's long-term broadcasting deal with the Dubai-based Ten sports ended this year.

"The long term deal will be bid out when the election process is complete and the court directives are completed," the source said.

Both South Africa and Sri Lanka have refused to tour Pakistan because of security reasons forcing the Board to organise the matches in the UAE.