LAHORE: Pakistan Friday said that it hoped to get $18 million in compensation for losing its share of World Cup 2011 matches over security fears.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Thursday announced the World Cup matches dispute with Pakistan was resolved after its President David Morgan and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt met in Dubai.
Butt said Pakistan expects to get $18 million in all.
“Apart from our hosting rights fee of $10.5 million, we expect to get some additional amount in compensation which, after calculation, will come to $18 million,” Butt told a press conference on his return from Dubai.
In April this year, the ICC was forced to relocate Pakistan’s share of 14 matches because of security fears after attacks in its eastern city of Lahore on the Sri Lankan team on March 3.
The attacks injured seven players and their assistant coach and killed eight people.
The PCB served a legal notice on the ICC, saying the relocation was unjust, but after Thursday’s agreement they have withdrawn the legal case.
The Central Organizing Committee of the World Cup 2011 last month awarded eight of Pakistan’s matches to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh.
Besides World Cup matches, the Champions trophy 2008 was also moved out to South Africa after several teams refused to tour Pakistan over security fears.
Butt said the solution was the best possible under the circumstances.
“We feel that this was the best possible solution and we will get additional amount and would not be forced to beg around for money to keep our cricket on track,” said Butt, whose organization is strapped for cash with no international cricket at home.
Pakistan incurred financial losses to the tune of $30 million after India refused to send its team to Pakistan for a series in January-February this year.
India’s refusal came in the wake of last year’s attacks on its commercial hub Mumbai, which New Delhi blamed on militants based in Pakistan.
Butt accused India of vetoing Pakistan’s request of hosting its World Cup matches on neutral venues, notably in the United Arab Emirates where Pakistan have recently played after teams refused to tour.
“Morgan and incoming ICC President Sharad Pawar had no problems in Pakistan hosting their matches at neutral venues, but the Indian Board refused to accept that,” he said.
“England hosted some of the matches in Ireland and Scotland during the 1999 World Cup and when the World Cup was held in South Africa in 2003 some of the matches were held in Zimbabwe and Kenya. It could have happened again.”
