The cash-strapped Pakistan Cricket Board could make a whopping US $20 million from the upcoming home series against traditional rivals India, PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja said.
"I don't want to quote exact figures in terms of revenue generation because the series still has to be marketed," Raja told a press conference in Karachi. "But keeping in mind the guaranteed earnings from sale of television rights ($11 million dollars) I would say the figure could reach $20 million dollars," Raja told a news conference in Karachi.
"The interest in the series is already very high and we are getting regular offers from companies in India and Pakistan, including leading banks and international consumer brands. But we still have to market it carefully and in a transparent manner," he was quoted as saying by the daily The News.
Raja pointed out that this was the first real opportunity in more than a decade for the PCB to make handsome profits. India have confirmed that they will be touring Pakistan from March 1 to play five Limited Overs Internationals and three Tests, their first full tour of the country since 1989.
"We would like to strike a balance while selling title and co-sponsorship, advertising, and other rights of the series because obviously India's commercial and consumer market is far bigger and greater than Pakistan's," Raja said.
He said major Indian companies are already showing an unprecedented interest in the series. "But we would like to have a neutral title sponsor for the series. We can't allow the series to be completely dominated by Indian brands, but at the same time we have to ensure that Pakistani companies are able to match Indian offers and we don't lose money."
He said the PCB is considering hosting the India matches at Karachi and Peshawar, the two venues that were spurned by the South African and New Zealand teams.
"We have also proposed to have the three Tests before the one-day series so that the people's interest in the series is retained," he said.
Raja said that since the series was eagerly anticipated and very high profile, there was a proposal to have the Indian team enter Pakistan via the Wagah border.
