Holding of PSL in Punjab remains in limbo as PCB, franchises refuse to cough up money

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the interim Punjab government Friday remained at loggerheads over bearing the cost for the security of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel

A delegation of the Punjab government met with PCB chairman Najm Sethi on the issue but the PCB refused to budge.

The negotiations are still ongoing at the PCB headquarters.

Provincial Ministers Javed Ikram, Mansoor Qadir, Ibrahim Murad, Commissioner Lahore Ali Randhawa and DC Rafia Haider are representing the government side for talks with Chairman PCB Management Committee Najam Sethi and PSL management members participated in the talks.

According to sources, there were heated arguments between both sides as PCB refused to pay further for administering the matches. They said they could not provide more funds to the government.

However, the government delegation was of the view that the PCB was earning a lot and should share the burden of holding the matches.

Upon this demand, Sethi got angry and both parties exchanged heated arguments.

The interim Punjab government had demanded PKR500 million from PCB to conduct the matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi. The board has already paid PKR50 million to the Punjab government for expenses on food.

The provincial government is now demanding the remaining PKR450 million for lighting and security purposes. In order to save these expenses, the board is now considering shifting the Punjab leg of PSL 8 to Karachi.

Earlier in the day, the PCB conducted an emergency meeting with all PSL franchise owners, in order to decide the fate of PSL matches scheduled to take place in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

According to details, the meeting took place via video conference call, where the PSL franchise owners gave PCB management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, the final authority to take the call on the aforementioned matter.

Najam Sethi believes that succumbing to the provincial government’s demand will set a wrong precedent for the future and will also result in financial losses for the board and PSL franchises.

PSL franchises have refused to foot the PKR450 million bill demanded by the provincial government.

PCB is still negotiating the matter with the provincial government and is expected to reach a decision by today evening. Another emergency meeting will take place between PCB and PSL franchises tomorrow, in case the issue is not resolved.

PCB has already presented an alternate plan to PSL franchises regarding shifting the rest of the PSL 8 matches to Karachi.

If the remaining PSL matches are shifted to Karachi, then the matches scheduled for Lahore during New Zealand series, are also likely to move to Karachi.

PSL franchises have given complete authority to Sethi to decide on the matter.