Cricket’s Shutdown Is A Financial Strain For The Pakistan Cricket Board

Cricket, like almost every other sport, has been in flux since the coronavirus pandemic derailed everyday life, caused worldwide panic and rocked economies globally.

International cricket has been suspended since the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was postponed on March 17 ahead of the semi-finals. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hope to reschedule the remainder of the Twenty20 tournament in November-December.

“The northern hemisphere players are free then,” PCB chairman Ehsan Mani tells me via a phone interview. “Some of the Australian players are not in the national team and hopefully they can come back.”

The sudden suspension spoilt a historic PSL, where every match was played in Pakistan for the first time after the previous four editions were mostly played in the UAE. It had been a realization of Mani’s goal when he took over as chairman in 2018 and the tournament was well received by players and fans.

Not being able to complete the tournament was a bitter disappointment.

“The passion that came out of this event was undeniable,” Mani says. “The reaction from overseas players was great. We took matches for the first time to Multan and Rawalpindi and there were massive turnouts.

“It’s been great for lifting the spirit of the country. But there will now be some financial loss.”

Mani says the PCB’s initial “detailed financial analysis” forecasts a loss of about $5-6 million in revenue due to the rest of the Pakistan home season being scrapped, which also includes a Test and an ODI in Karachi against Bangladesh scheduled for earlier this month.

But this could just be the start of financial pain for the PCB. Pakistan was supposed to have a crowded schedule this year marked by a Test tour of England mid-year – which is now in jeopardy.

“The U.K. does not look great with Wimbledon cancelled,” Mani says of Pakistan’s three-Test series against England which was set to start on July 30. “Going forward beyond our season becomes even more critical (financially) and there will especially be a financial impact if the T20 World Cup is cancelled.”

It is still six months away but there is growing doubt over the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to run from October 18-November 15 in Australia. There are strict travel restrictions in Australia and quarantine measures which the Australian government has forecast could be in place for six months.

If the tournament does take place, it is a strong possibility that there will be no fans in attendance unless the coronavirus situation markedly improves in the coming months.

“It’s either you play it and everyone just gets on with the job and we’re past this pandemic,” former Australia captain Allan Border told Fox Sports Australia. “Or it just has to be cancelled and you try to fit it in somewhere else.”

Mani says Pakistan is eager for T20’s flagship tournament to be played but concedes there are stumbling blocks. “We would do anything to get cricket going again,” he says. “But it’s not that simple and there are big logistical challenges.

“If quarantine is imposed on arrival, do players have access to practice facilities during this time? Or if they are locked in a hotel do they have to play straight after? If that is the case then I don’t think people will be happy with that.”

Whenever things get back to normal, Mani insists Pakistan will be permanently based at home having not played a Test match – cricket’s longest format exclusive to just 12 countries – in Pakistan in the 2010s until the last month of the decade. 

That was due to the horrific Lahore terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, which forced Pakistan into being nomads and mainly being based in the UAE, where Test matches were mostly played in empty stadiums.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have played Tests in Pakistan in recent months without incident – although visiting teams have been granted presidential-like security reinforcements – underlining the improved security situation in the strife-torn nation. 

Australia and England are due to tour Pakistan in 2022 – although cricket’s scheduling could well be muddled moving forward – but its respective governing bodies remain coy over the prospect. Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998, while England’s was in 2005.

Mani is adamant Pakistan will no longer use the UAE as a home base with it being a money drain and soulless experience mostly in front of empty stands. A short Test series in the UAE compared to playing in Pakistan would cost an extra $10-15 million for the PCB due to ground rentals, security costs and loss of gate revenue.

“Playing home matches outside of Pakistan – we lose money and it doesn’t help our players and development,” Mani says. “We need to strengthen Pakistan cricket and that means playing at home.

“We will only play in Pakistan unless there are extraordinary reasons.”

Right now, an extraordinary situation has prevented cricket being played in Pakistan – and basically everywhere.

The financial carnage looms.