Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ramiz Raja has made an interesting statement ahead of India-Pakistan clash in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pakistan are yet to defeat India in a World Cup match. The two teams have met each other seven times in the 50-overs World Cup and five times in the 20-overs World Cup, and on each of those instances, India proved to be the better side.
The arch-rivals will face each other on October 24 in the T20 World Cup which will kick off on October 17. With Pakistan's World Cup record against India in mind, one wealthy investor approached Pakistan's chairman with a lucrative offer.
"One strong investor told me that a blank cheque is ready for the PCB if Pakistan beats India in the upcoming T20 World Cup," the PCB chairman said during an interview in Pakistan Stock Exchange.
Speaking on the financial issues PCB is going through Ramiz said, "Pakistan isn’t strong enough like the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to fund International Cricket Council (ICC) rather ICC is funding PCB. According to the former Pakistani cricketer PCB might found itself in all sorts of trouble if BCCI stops funding ICC."
"PCB runs 50 per cent on the funding of ICC. 90 per cent of funding to ICC comes from India. I’m afraid that if India stopped funding ICC, then PCB might collapse because PCB gives zero per cent funding to ICC. I’m determined to make Pakistan cricket strong," Raja added.
Moreover, while addressing the withdrawn of the Pakistan tour by New Zealand (NZC) and England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the 59-year-old said that the boards should have thought of their decision numerous times if Pakistan cricket would be strong economically.
“If our cricket economy is strong, we won’t be used and then binned by teams like England and New Zealand. Best cricket team and best cricket economy are two big challenges," asserted Ramiz.
He further said, he is determined to make Pakistan cricket strong and will do everything in his power to do so.
