PCB seeks matches with India to raise funds

The cash-strapped Pakistan Cricket Board has requested the ICC's special task force to arrange a series of matches for its national team against India and a World XI at neutral venues to raise much needed funds.

The proposal was made by PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt during his meeting with the ICC task force members in Dubai last week.

"The PCB has proposed that since they are falling short of funds due to the refusal of teams to tour Pakistan because of security reasons, they want the ICC to select a World XI to play a One-day series in England sometime next year," a task force member told PTI.

He said the PCB proposed that the ICC can form the World XI because most of the teams would return from the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies via England in March next year.

"The PCB sees a one week window after the Twenty20 World Cup and wants a series of ODI matches as this would allow it to raise much needed funds for its survival," former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja, who is a member of the task force, said.

Raja said Pakistan's proposal could be discussed at the next executive board meeting of the ICC early next year.

Butt had highlighted the fact that due to international teams' refusal to tour Pakistan, the PCB was finding it difficult to generate revenues.

"The other proposal made by the PCB Chairman is that the Indian board take out a window of a week or so to play a short series against Pakistan at a neutral venue sometime next year," Rameez said.