ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Dubai-based TenSports and ARY Digital were awarded the contract for telecasting international cricket in Pakistan because they were the highest bidders, sports minister Rais Munir Ahmad said in a written reply to a question in the Senate on Friday.

Rais said that it was a fact that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had sold the telecasting rights for a period of five years running from April 2003 to March 2008. "The estimated earning through this deal will be $42.6 million."

"The reason for inviting international bids was to ensure that these rights should fetch the maximum amount through a fair and transparent process." Responding to another question in writing, the minister said that there were seven international standard swimming pools in the country. Of these, two are in Islamabad, as many in Lahore and Karachi and one in Peshawar.

"The government is committed to provide maximum financial infrastructural and administrative support to the national sports federations for promotions of games."

He said that the swimming federation being an affiliated body of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) was receiving regular annual grants from them. The PSB, he pointed out was bearing all expenses of the swimming squad which is preparing for the 9th SAF Games in March and a Chinese coach had also been engaged for them. He disclosed that the government was planning to construct a swimming pool each in Quetta, Sadiqabad and Gujrat.