April 8, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1427

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LAHORE, April 7: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has no link with a TV deal of US$ one billion signed by the Indian Cricket Board, covering five-year matches to be played between Pakistan and India on off-shore venues.

"PCB has no link with the one billion dollar deal and we will work with India together to prepare a separate tender for all marketing rights for off-shore series between the two countries", Shaharyar M. Khan told journalists on Friday.

Pakistan and India agreed, early this year, to play each other in 15 matches in next five years on neutral venues.

Pakistan and India are also meeting in two ODIs to be held in Abu Dhabi on April 18 and 19 to raise funds for the Oct 8's earthquake victims.

It was reported that the PCB had conceded the marketing rights to its Indian counterpart for the five-year series and under that agreement the Indian board signed the TV rights' deal, unilaterally.

"PCB has only conceded the marketing right of two ODIs of the earthquake victims because that proposal also came from the Indian board, but as far as the five-year plan is concerned no such agreement was signed," Shaharyar said.

Shaharyar was to meet United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan in USA to receive an award, the international organization announced for both Pakistan and India for promoting peace through cricket.

Shaharyar said that the function had been postponed because the UNO was preferring the presence of the Indian and Pakistan cricket teams on the occasion.

He said the PCB would propose to the UNO to hold the such ceremony in India during the 2006 Champions Trophy.