PCB sells it's soul for $$$$$

[Fontaine]

PCB signs US$9 million deal with Dubai Sports City

Cricinfo staff September 24, 2008 The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has signed a three-year contract worth US$9 million with Dubai Sports City, which will serve as the home venue for Pakistan's future cricketing commitments after touring teams raised security concerns over travelling to Pakistan. "Under the recently-signed contract, the Pakistan team will play different events at the offshore venue for three years after the completion of Dubai Cricket Stadium next year ," said Shafqat Nagmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, while announcing the deal at a news conference. Naghmi said the stadium is likely to be completed in February 2009 and will host a tri-series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in April. For the next two years, the team will be participating in Twenty20 events. According to a senior PCB official, Pakistan will play four Twenty20 matches in that period with the board expected to rake in US$3 million per match for the three-year assignment. The PCB has already suffered heavy financial losses this year with the postponement of the Champions Trophy and Australia's refusal to tour Pakistan for a Test series earlier in March-April this year. Concerns also loomed over the lack of international cricket being played, with only a quadrangular tournament in Toronto involving hosts Canada, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe scheduled for October, ahead of the home series against India in January 2009. "It is a lucrative contract which will help in overcoming the loss after postponement of Champions Trophy," said Naghmi. "Through this deal we will be generating enough funds besides having a definite programme of our team's participation in international cricket". He signed the contract subject to the approval of the incoming chairman of the PCB, the position which remains vacant following the resignation of Nasim Ashraf. © Cricinfo

:hysterical::hysterical: This means that Pakistan will have it's "home" games in Dubai? What a joke! Instead of fighting for your honor and gaining back respectability the PCB punishes Pakistan cricket fans with no home cricket for the next three years? No wonder they're the laughing stock of international cricket. And for what? Just 9 million freakin' dollars? :hysterical:

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

With all countries except India & B'desh refusing to tour Pakistan, this isn't a bad idea. BTW, is the ban on Sharjah as an international Cricket venue still on?

[DomainK]

How can they be "home" games then?

[Tapioca]

This will at least ensure some revenue from the media. Should have done this at least a year or so back.

[Dravid]

BTW, is the ban on Sharjah as an international Cricket venue still on?

yup, we wont tour for sure there.. and ii doubt they will ever unban.. esp. with that new awesome stadium htye made in abu dhabi

[Ram]

So, they've outsourced all home games? Nice.

[Dravid]

so we will be touring to dubai come jan or whatever? bcci, proably made em take it...see bcci does give a little tiny bit of shyt about our guys :D

[veer]

they had to do it.. its the sake of pakistan cricket.. wise move i say..

[Lord]

so we will be touring to dubai come jan or whatever? bcci, proably made em take it...see bcci does give a little tiny bit of shyt about our guys :D

i think ind- pak series will be played in pak stadium will be completed after that . i'm not sure tho

[DomainK]

"Under the recently-signed contract, the Pakistan team will play different events at the offshore venue for three years after the completion of Dubai Cricket Stadium next year ,

So in the 2011 world cup the teams will travel all the way to Dubai for their matches in Pakistan?:wall:

[ucilite]

PCB signs US$9 million deal with Dubai Sports City :hysterical::hysterical: This means that Pakistan will have it's "home" games in Dubai? What a joke! Instead of fighting for your honor and gaining back respectability the PCB punishes Pakistan cricket fans with no home cricket for the next three years? No wonder they're the laughing stock of international cricket. And for what? Just 9 million freakin' dollars? :hysterical:

i think its a damn good move on PCB's part and the one that i suggested a week or so earlier in an another thread as well. i think they will keep on playing all the sub-continental teams in Pakistan, but most likely will have to stage all other teams in dubai.....with dubai having a large desi population i think we might have more people showing up for the games there than what we have seen in Pakistan lately.... this decision would serve pakistan cricket well and your caption for this thread ' PCB sells it's soul for $$$$$' is truly pathetic!!!

[riya]

They have no other choice.

[Dark Warrior]

why sharjah is banned btw????????????????????????????????????

[riya]

Sharjah ...the ''booking '' paradise .

[veer]

i think its a damn good move on PCB's part and the one that i suggested a week or so earlier in an another thread as well. i think they will keep on playing all the sub-continental teams in Pakistan' date= but most likely will have to stage all other teams in dubai.....with dubai having a large desi population i think we might have more people showing up for the games there than what we have seen in Pakistan lately.... this decision would serve pakistan cricket well and your caption for this thread ' PCB sells it's soul for $$$$$' is truly pathetic!!!

are you sure on this?? I really doubt that PCB can dictate that.. and that dubai company isnt that stupid to miss out on $$$ coming from India - pak games or pak - SL games since asian population is so huge..

[ucilite]

are you sure on this?? I really doubt that PCB can dictate that.. and that dubai company isnt that stupid to miss out on $$$ coming from India - pak games or pak - SL games since asian population is so huge..

to be honest, i'm not sure on that, but at the same time schedule for India-Pak series has been released plus Indo-Pak series itself is probably worth half of what PCB is getting for three years!

[vadodaravictor]

Dubai is the new Sharjah:D..what will happen to WC2011 games in Pak ?

[SachDan]

yup, we wont tour for sure there.. and ii doubt they will ever unban.. esp. with that new awesome stadium htye made in abu dhabi

the one in Dubai is even better

[SachDan]

Dubai Cricket Stadium to open in January By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter Dubai: The Dubai Sports City cricket stadium will be ready by January 2008. "We are on schedule to open the stadium by January and we are all set to fix the roof over the stadium," said U. Balasubramaniam, the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Sports City. Plans are also on to stage the first international match at this stadium by March 2008. "Abdulrehman Bukhatir is keen to organise an international event in March. We are currently talking to a lot of people to finalise the event," added Balasubramaniam. The pitch will be a typical sub continental wicket that will be ideally suited for one-day cricket. Soil and grass from different parts of the world are being experimented with for use in the pitch. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It will be a batsman's wicket as one-day cricket is to be played on it. The curator would need at least seven months time to work on the wicket to be made ready," revealed Balasubramaniam. The process of finalising the electronics scoreboard has also commenced. One of the most modern lighting systems will also being introduced in the stadium. The capacity of the stadium will be 25,000 with an expandable capacity to 30,000. The stadium will be totally covered. It is being designed in such a way that every seat within the cricket stadium will be covered. The roofing is such that it would be able to withstand all weather patterns and even absorb dust storms and moisture and provide a cool atmosphere. "The plan is such that except the pitch and the grass everything else will have a shade over it," said Balasubramaniam. Over 50 hospitality suites with a VIP lounge are being made. There will also be a VVIP box which can seat around 70 spectators. This box will have a separate entrance and a separate elevator. A media box, which can accommodate over 100 writers is also getting ready. The room will have state-of-the-art facilities including online connectivity and even a lounge. Entrance to the box will be through a card system. A very efficient drainage system is also being installed to ensure a quick start in case the match is held up due to rain. Efforts are being made to ensure that water does not seep into the grass. Sophisticated dressing rooms are being built for the teams. These rooms will even have plunge pools. A small balcony is also being created for the dressing rooms for the players to sit out and watch the action. Special rooms for the umpires, the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption unit and a special room for drug testing unit are also being made. Two grounds The International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Academy at the Dubai Sports City will have two oval grounds for local cricket teams to play matches. These grounds can also be used by county teams, which would like to play pre-season matches. The Dubai Sports City will have a five-star 30-floor hotel. However, for the county or club teams to stay, there will be a 1,000-bed accommodation. There will be recreational and dining facilities at the facility. The best facilities for a team's preparation are being created. There will be a top class gymnasium and swimming pool. "The global academy is in the centre of the world, located between the northern and southern hemisphere. It will be easy for teams around the world to stop over here and practice before the start of any series. We will also be focussing on providing help to the A teams of different countries to train here," said Balasubramaniam, the CEO of the DSC. Floodlights with a difference The day-night matches to be played at the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium will be special not only for the spectators but also for the players. A unique lighting system known as the 'ring of fire' will be introduced for the first time in a cricket stadium. There will be no rectangular platforms with poles holding the focus lights. "We have realised that in cricket stadiums which have floodlights on poles by 5pm when you switch on the lights players find it difficult to adjust to the lights. We also see an elongation of shadows. With the 'ring of fire', it will be a gradual migration from day light to night. The cricketers naked eye will easily get adjusted to the light with minimal stress to the retina," said Balasubramaniam, CEO of Dubai Sports City DSC). The DSC officials are on talks with experts in lighting like Siemens, Philips and Musco, who have installed lighting for many American football stadiums. ICC global academy to be ready by August next year The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) global academy at Dubai Sports City will be ready seven months after the completion of the cricket stadium. Though the cricket stadium will be ready by January 2008, the global cricket academy work will be completed only by August. The most modern facilities for training are being incorporated in this academy. It will be the world governing body's innovative venture and a centre of excellence. Cricket teams from around the world are expected to train here. Even cricketers who would like to correct their techniques will be able to get guidance from this centre. Different types of wickets are being created at the global academy such as fast bouncy wickets and spinning wickets. Courses for curators, umpires and even cricket administrators will also be held in the academy. Rod Marsh has been overseeing the construction of the global academy. A General Manager will be appointed soon

[ucilite]

Dubai is the new Sharjah:D..what will happen to WC2011 games in Pak ?

hopefully (keeping my fingers crossed) this dumb war on terror will be over by then......if not, your guess is as good as mine