KARACHI, Sept 9: Former chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Arif Ali Khan Abbasi has raised questions over the two separate broadcasting deals recently finalised by the board.
“Splitting the bid makes no sense to me,” said Abbasi while talking to a private TV channel on Sunday. “It might be a profitable venture but will remain vague until the details are made public. The process also shows the weakness of the PCB’s marketing department which failed to attract international bidders,” he pointed out.
Abbasi also felt that the companies would feel difficulty in carrying out an effective campaign for their respective share. “When does one broadcaster start marketing and when does the other one begin the same process? It is pretty confusing for me to figure out,” said Abbasi.
The PCB completed the process of sale of media broadcasting rights for the Pakistan-South Africa and Pakistan-Sri Lanka series, scheduled to be held between October 2013 and January 2014.
A leading Dubai-based sports company bagged the rights for the Pakistan-South Africa series while a leading Pakistani television network was awarded the broadcasting rights for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series.
Abbasi added that hiring the services of former ICC president Ehsan Mani was indicative of the fact that the PCB lacked “competence” within.
“Awarding a contract to an inexperienced broadcaster says it all,” he said. “Mani is an internationally renowned individual and yet no international company apart from Ten Sports took interest in the process. Then what was the purpose of having him [Mani] over for the bids,” asked Abbasi.
“The PCB should make all the relevant details public to clarify the ambiguities.”—APP
