KARACHI, Feb 28: There was no foul play in the process of marketing deals, which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) signed with various sponsors, worth a record US$21 million (120 crore Pak rupees), for the forthcoming Pakistan-India series , chairman Shaharyar Mohammad Khan claimed here on Saturday.

Addressing a news conference at the National Stadium, the PCB chief reiterated his policy of 'adopting a culture of transparency and merit', and said it was imperative to counter the impression created by some of the bidders that the cricket board had ulterior motives while awarding rights to the intended sponsors for the money-spinning series.

"Let me clarify once again that the PCB had been fair to everyone who took part in the bidding process after tender notices were published in newspapers, both in Pakistan and India last month (Jan 22 and 23)," said the PCB boss.

Flanked by marketing consultant Riaz Mahmood and legal advisor Ahmed Hussain - the two bid committee members who were hand- picked by the PCB chief himself - Shaharyar remarked: "Between Jan 26 and 28, detailed bid documents were issued to a total of 23 concerned parties each of whom had paid to the PCB a non- refundable and non-adjustable amount of US$1,000 (Rs58,000 in Pak currency).

"Of all the bids for the nine draft contracts, three were received by the specially appointed independent auditor a few minutes late, causing some resentment among the majority of bidders who had submitted their bids earlier.

"The PCB Bid Committee then decided unanimously to overlook the delays due to lack of materiality since these bid were received well before the opening of the tenders. The potential bidders were already advised that bids would be opened at 11.00am on Feb 7, while the three delay bids were received at 10.02am (from World Sport Nimbus), 10.05 (Interflow Communications) and 10.25 (S & S Sports).

"As a result of the bidding process, five contracts, valued at over $7.3 million, were signed. Samsung won the title sponsorship for $4,000,000; Hero India, the co-sponsorship for $1,491,000; Live radio broadcasting was awarded to Ten Sport for $150,000; In- stadia advertising (restricted) to Madison Outdoor Media Services for $383,800 and Unrestricted in-stadia advertising to World Sports Nimbus for $1,287,000," the PCB chief declared.

"The PCB also signed a contract with World Sport Nimbus who offered $102,000 for telephony rights for India only," he added.

With Ten Sports bound to pay $13,333,333 for the exclusive television rights, the cash-strapped PCB expects to generate total revenues exceeding $21 million - roughly over Rs120 crore for the rights marketed from the Indian series.

"We have secured contracts of around US$21 million. This sum is far beyond what we had expected in the first place," Shaharyar claimed.

"Some of the offers were restricted for Pakistani companies so that the series does not provide an Indian show. On the whole, we are satisfied that we struck a balance," he concluded.

The PCB was expected to earn another $1 million from sale of tickets.