LAHORE, Dec 5: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will try its level best to insure its forthcoming home series against India before Dec 15 to avoid any financial losses in case of cancellation of the tour due to security fears of the visitors.

PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Saleem Altaf told Dawn that an initial meeting with an English expert David Boorman on Thursday had proved very fruitful as according to the Board’s terms and condition it would not face any financial losses in both cases whether the Indian came or not.

He said if agreed on all the terms and conditions the deal would strike before Dec 15, well before the start of the Indian tour.

“The insurance policy will also cover the risk of cancellation of the tour due to security reasons and that is big achievement,” Saleem said prior to his departure for Cape Town, South Africa to attend the ICC Chief Executives meeting.

Though Indians are to tour Pakistan in January-February next year, the prevailing political situation between the two countries and security problems have cast a shadow on the crucial series.

The PCB is quite desperate for international cricket at home since this year it failed to host Australia and the ICC Champions Trophy as many teams were reluctant to visit Pakistan on security grounds.

“The PCB needs international cricket at home to generate income and we are hopeful the Indian will come to Pakistan according to the schedule, but as alternative we are doing efforts to avoid any financial losses,” he said.

When reminded that a similar insurance was also obtained for the postponed home series against Australia last year but the PCB did not earn any amount through the claim, Saleem said that was a different case as there were many loopholes in that deal due to which PCB could not claim any damage.

Saleem, however, added that the matter of Australia’s tour insurance was also discussed with Boorman and he advised the PCB to hire a legal expert to solve the case.