NEW DELHI, Nov 10: India’s cricket tour of Pakistan in February-March next is expected to rake in huge financial gains for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with one expert putting the figure at around $20m.

This would help offset huge losses that PCB has suffered following Sept 11 terror attacks in the US, after which several countries began to virtually boycott Pakistan because of tensions in the region. The last time India toured Pakistan was in 1997.

“It is going to be jackpot series, and from my reading of pulse of international television rights market, the series is going to be worth $20m,” a senior official of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said.

He said these figures take into account the three Tests and seven one-day internationals likely to be played in Pakistan.

The official said some 65 million homes in India, or an estimated 260 million people, would watch the series if Doordarshan gets right to televise matches.

It will mean huge income to broadcasters - rights of Pakistani cricket are with Taj Television company’s TEN Sports - through advertisement revenue. In turn PCB will benefit through in-stadia advertisements and ticket sales.

In addition, PCB can also make money from other innovative ways of marketing the series.

“Indian companies like LG Electronics, Hero Honda, TVS Motors and Samsung will advertise during series on TV in a big way, and also at stadiums,” said the official, who runs a big business house.

But will PCB make up for losses it suffered due to cancelled/truncated home series with the series against India?

“I don’t know how much losses PCB has suffered, but I can certainly say Indian team’s value is very, very high.”

Another expert said PCB stands a good chance of offsetting its losses.

“It might not gain more from Taj Television, as the money is almost fixed when a tv company enters into a contract with a cricket board, but PCB can gain a lot from gates and in-stadia advertising,” he said.

Only three Tests and three one-day internationals were originally scheduled for this tour, according to 10-year calendar of International Cricket Council (ICC).

But, obviously, market value of India-Pakistan series are making cricket officials of both countries go for three Tests and seven one-dayers, according to a BCCI spokesman.

For a series longer than the one envisaged by ICC, cricket boards of any two countries can either go for reciprocity or touring country’s board can ask for a certain amount per match fixed by ICC a few years ago.

“For each extra Test, touring team’s board gets $66,000 and $25,000 per one-day international,” said BCCI official.

He, however, said BCCI does not accept money because it is “notional” and “trifle” in case of India-Pakistan cricket.

“We go for reciprocity, except for old contracts with any country, as values are short (of money),” he said.

As an example of old contract, he cited acrimony created before 2001 India-England series in India, and said England wanted India to play an extra Test on its 2002 tour of Old Blighty but did not want to play an extra one-dayer in India.

“This money problem of comes mostly from England and Australia, not from any of 10 Test-playing countries,” he stressed.—PPI