Recently appointed PCB chairman Rameez Raja recently said that PCB might collapse if India stops funding ICC. Further, he also claimed that a blank cheque is ready for PCB if Pak beats India at the upcoming T20 world cup.
The former cricketer turned commentator took the chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board in September this year. Since then, Rameez has gone on record and has made multiple statements about the current situations that is plaguing his cricket board.
Earlier last month, New Zealand cancelled its tour of Pakistan on the last moment. This left many players fuming, including the chairman himself. Rameez had said the Pakistan cricket team will only tour other countries if it is in their interest.
Details
Cricket has been the most popular and continues to be the most loved sport in India. Be it an IPL game, a T20 international, or a serious Test game, over a billion people remain glued to their screen. This lets advertisers, broadcasters, sponsors and other stakeholders make big bucks. It’s no wonder then, that BCCI, India’s cricket controlling authority, is the richest cricket boards in the world.
Recently, Pakistan Cricket Board’s newly appointed chairman spoke about the enormity of BCCI on a financial level.
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The Facts of the Matter
PCB chairman Rameez Raza doesn’t want to continue relying on ICC. The chairman is of the opinion that to strengthen the board financially, local Pakistani entrepreneurs must come forward and back their teams. He claimed that he’s determined to strengthen the Pakistani team and make it self-sufficient.
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“PCB Might Collapse If…” Rameez Raja’s Statement on BCCI and ICC
On a visit to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the PCB chairman gave a valuable remark which shows the financial dominance of India over the International Cricket Council. As per Raja, 90% of the ICC’s funding comes from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). He claimed that he fears PCB collapse as it doesn’t provide any funding to the ICC.
“PCB runs 50% on the funding of ICC whereas 90٪ of funding to ICC comes from India. I’m afraid if India stopped funding ICC, then PCB might collapse and that’s a reality because PCB gives 0% funding to ICC. I’m determined to make Pakistan Cricket strong,” said Rameez Raja.
PCB Promised a Blank Cheque if Pak Defeats India in T20 World Cup
Raja also added that an entrepreneur has promised him a blank cheque for the board if the Pakistan team defeats India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. “One strong investor told me that a blank cheque is ready for the PCB if Pakistan beats India in the upcoming T20 World Cup,” the Pakistan team captain turned commentator said.
The idea of defeating India for influx of capital in the board may sound appealing, but the task is challenging, to say the least. Pakistan has locked horns with India in 5 T20 World Cup occasions and have been 4 times. On one occasion, the game ended in a thrilling tie.
Rameez Raja’s Woes with New Zealand and England
Earlier in September this year, the PCB chairman was left disappointed after New Zealand decided to cancel its tour of Pakistan due to security threats. Subsequentially, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced the cancellation of its men’s and women’s teams tour due to “concerns about travelling to the region”.
“We Accommodate and Pamper These Sides”: Raja’s Fuming Statement
The newly appointed chief was obviously fuming and went on record saying, “We go out of our way to accommodate and pamper these sides when they visit. And when we go there, we undergo strict quarantines and we tolerate their admonishments, but there is a lesson in this. That is, that from now on we will only go as far as is in our interest.”
