The deal signed between Pakistan Cricket Board and Dubai Sports City (DSC) is not only going to reap rich dividends for the PCB, but also for Pakistani cricketers as they will be earning around $100,000 each for playing in the offshore matches.
According to information received from well placed sources, under the three-year deal signed between both the parties, the PCB stands to get paid around $3 million for each event they play in the DSC.
For each event to be played in the offshore venue, the DSC will pay the PCB $1.5 million and $100,000 to each of 15 Pakistani players selected for the tournament.
"The Dubai Sports City management will hold the broadcasting, sponsorship and advertising rights of these events planned in the next three years," one source said.
The source added that the DSC officials were confident of completing their cricket stadium by late this year and have already started negotiating with different boards to enter into long term agreements.
"For the 2009 tri-series, they are in talks with South Africa and Sri Lanka. So far except for India and Australia, they have got positive response from the other boards," the source stated.
He said the organisers wanted South Africa , Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the inaugural tournament that would be followed by four Twenty20 matches in the next two years.
The DSC is another brainchild of Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, the Arab businessman who brought cricket to the emirates by successfully hosting dozens of tournaments in Sharjah which were discontinued in 2003.
Bukhatir was also the first to initiate benefit purses for Pakistani and Indian cricketers and later this beneficiary scheme was also given to other nations.
A number of former and present players got the benefit purses during the tournaments.
"For Pakistan cricket it is a very good deal and it is also a very good platform for Bukhatir to get involved in cricket organisation again. Rest assured the facilities being built at the sports city are of international standards," the source said.
The PCB, which is grappling from financial woes, is looking to recoup its monetary position by inking $ 9 million deal after a series of postponed events at home soil following touring teams reluctance to visit the country due to security concerns.
PCB signs a lucrative deal with Dubai Sports City
Advertisement