Cricket boards of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are currently embroiled in a financial dispute over the additional $3-4 million expenses incurred due to the relocation of the Asia Cup to Sri Lanka last year. Originally, Pakistan was set to host the tournament, but due to geopolitical tensions, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan. As a result, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided on a hybrid model and enlisted Sri Lanka to host most of the matches.
This change in venue led to extra costs for chartered flights, hotel bookings, venue hiring fees, and travel. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) clarified during an ACC council meeting that it was not willing to shoulder the financial burden since it did not earn any additional revenue and was not the official host of the tournament. The expenses reportedly escalated because the former PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, altered the venue for the first match from Lahore to Multan.
The PCB is urging the ACC to cover the additional expenses as the governing body made the decision to strip Pakistan of its hosting rights and divide the event. According to a source familiar with the matter, ACC chief Jay Shah affirmed during the Bali meeting that the PCB insisted on hosting four matches after the ACC board had already decided to move the entire tournament to Sri Lanka. The source stated that Shah explained that since Pakistan remained the host and Sri Lanka’s venues and facilities were utilized, the PCB should settle SLC’s dues.
SLC President Shami Silva expressed concern to the ACC that the PCB had not yet paid for hotel stays and chartered flights. Shah advised Silva to communicate directly with the PCB. The PCB’s CEO, Salman Naseer, assured Silva that some bills related to hotel stays and venue rentals were being verified and would be settled soon. However, the issue of expenses incurred on chartered flights remains unresolved, with the PCB asserting that the flights were booked through a non-prequalified Sri Lankan company called Classic Travel.
Thus far, the PCB has made an upfront payment of $281,700 and agreed to provide SLC with $2,069,885 for the venues. However, the PCB is now insisting that the ACC, as the parent body, share some of the additional costs and cover the $2.5 million hosting fee. The financial dispute between the cricket boards of Pakistan and Sri Lanka continues to remain unresolved.
The cricket boards of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are currently involved in a financial dispute over the additional expenses incurred due to the shifting of the Asia Cup to Sri Lanka last year. The original host, Pakistan, was unable to host the tournament due to geo-political tensions, so a hybrid model was adopted with Sri Lanka hosting the majority of the matches. However, this resulted in extra costs for chartered flights, hotel bookings, venue hiring fees, and travel. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is refusing to bear the financial burden as they did not earn extra revenue and were not the official host. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is making a case for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to cover the additional expenses, as it was the ACC’s decision to move the tournament. The PCB also insists that the ACC pay the hosting fee. The issue of expenses incurred on chartered flights remains unresolved, with the PCB claiming that the flights were booked through a non-prequalified Sri Lankan company.
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