BCCI accuse PCA of financial mismanagement

Less than 48 hours have passed since the final of the Challenger Trophy at Mohali, and the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) finds itself embroiled in a new controversy over television rights with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The first volley was fired by SK Nair, BCCI secretary, as he accused the PCA of not releasing the full financial details of the television deal with Zee Sports, which broadcast all four games. "We have sent them letters asking them to give us the financial details of the deal but PCA refuses to divulge information," Nair has been quoted as saying by The Times of India . "We would like to know how much money PCA has made because it affects the gross earnings of the board from which subsidies are given to affiliated units."

The BCCI claims that it is the PCA's responsibility to maintain transparency regarding any financial dealing, such as who determined a final amount for the TV rights and on what basis, given that the PCA is an affiliate of the BCCI.

IS Bindra, PCA president, disapproved Nair's statements and has dashed off his own letter to the board, dated October 13 and delivered to Nair, by hand, on October 14. Bindra has cited that the PCA went ahead and found sponsors for the Challenger Trophy and arranged for its telecast at the request of the Annual General Meeting, and that he does intend to submit a detailed financial report.

Nair's comments and Bindra's response are sure to raise the tempo of discussions at the board's marketing committee meeting to be held in Mumbai on October 16, where the technical bids for TV rights for coverage of all matches till 2009 will be discussed.