January 24, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 14, 1429

LAHORE, Jan 23: Chances for more international cricket in Pakistan look brighter after the International Cricket Council (ICC) released the first installment from the proposed budget for this year’s Champions Trophy to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The ICC is to bear all the expenditures for the Sept-Oct event, to be held in Pakistan.

Sources told Dawn that although the ICC initially deferred approving the total budget until March, it has released the first installment while giving PCB the green signal to begin arrangements for the event. However, the total amount of the budget and its first installment are still unknown.

Ahmad Farooq, director event for Champions Trophy, last December acquired clearance from certain federal departments about matters relating to security and finance, which paved the way for the release of this first installment.