PCB mulls shorter term for TV rights

In a bid to maximise profits, the PCB is considering selling its television rights till 2012, when the ICC will announce the next Future Tours Program (FTP), instead of a five-year period.

"Rather than putting up television rights for sale for a five-year period this year, I believe it would be more profitable for the PCB if we sell the rights till the period when the new FTP is announced," Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, told The News. "We are pushing for a better tour programme from 2012-2017 than it is now and that would help make the sale of our television rights more lucrative than now."

Pakistan have not played a single Test this year and only hosted Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in 2008 after Australia pulled out of their scheduled tour earlier this year citing security concerns. They do not have a Test assignment now until the end of this year when India visit, and next year is also scarce, though Australia may visit to make up for this year's absence. Pakistan's current FTP commitments were negotiated by the previous board administration under Shaharyar Khan and the amount of gaps in it has privately been criticised by current officials.

"Actually the amount of money you get through television rights is directly proportional to the quantity and quality of cricket your team is supposed to play in the coming years," Naghmi said. The issue will be discussed in the PCB's governing board meeting on Tuesday. "The board members will be briefed about all the options we have regarding the sale of the television rights and there might be some decision on it."