NEW DELHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said on Wednesday that the broadcast rights issue will not be a hindrance for December’s proposed Indo-Pak cricket series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and exuded confidence that the two boards will sort out the matter soon.

The revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties has hit a roadblock after differences emerged between PCB and Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) over broadcast rights issues, in particular the PCB’s series-by-series association with Ten Sports.

The BCCI reportedly does not approve of the PCB-Ten Sports deal and is not keen on an India-Pakistan series being broadcast by a potential ‘rival’ group.

The BCCI has been embroiled in a long-running legal dispute with the owners of Ten Sports, Zee Network, and is seen as unwilling to tour those countries where Ten Sports will be the home broadcaster.

One of the clauses in the ICC’s restructuring from last year states broadcasters in legal dispute with member boards, as the BCCI is with Zee, can be a reason to cancel a series.

Given that Essel Group, which owns Zee, have also recently stated their intention to create a parallel cricket world outside that governed by the ICC, Ten Sports as broadcaster remains a considerable obstacle.

“All that is speculative and it’s more rumour than anything else. We don’t know the truth about that,” Shaharyar told Mail Today of Zee’s reported plan.

Asked if it would be a hindrance for the proposed series, Shaharyar said: “No. I must explain that we will be dealing with the issue in the next few weeks and hopefully we will find a resolution to that.”

The proposal to revive Indo-Pak cricketing ties also faced opposition from Indian political leaders with the issue being raised in the Lok Sabha [lower house of India’s parliament] during zero hour on Tuesday.

“It is not so much with the Indian government,” Shaharyar said. “It is the BCCI and the broadcasters. We will jointly try to overcome it and I’m hopeful we can.”

The proposed full fledged series, which will involve three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s, is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two Boards last year and will be hosted by Pakistan in the UAE.

“India used to be hestitant in coming to UAE for the matches but ever since they had their IPL in UAE, I think their reservations have been resolved,” Shaharyar told the ‘Times Now’ channel regarding the MoU.

“Therefore, the MoU, clearly says that the first series will be hosted by Pakistan in UAE and BCCI agreed to that.”

Currently in India, Shaharyar had a series of meetings with BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, Union Minister Arun Jaitley and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur during the past few days.

“I met Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata; yesterday I met Arun Jaitley, today I met Anurag Thakur. After meeting all three, I feel we are on the right track and hopefully Indian government, will give its permission too,” he said.

Thakur too expressed his satisfaction over the progress made.

“Met the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board in Delhi today. We discussed some issues. Dialogue has just started, much needs to be decided upon,” said Thakur.

“After the two boards finalise the dates and the venues, we will then go to the Government of India for permission.”

Since 2007, India have not played a proper bilateral Test series with Pakistan mainly due to political reasons, particularly after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks which led to suspension of cricketing ties.

The two countries played one short series of three ODIs and two T20 matches in India in December 2012 but otherwise they have met only in ICC organised events or the Asia Cup.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2015

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