India turns MOUs into Binding Agreements: Pakistan gets fourth ranking after the 'Big Three': Next ICC President to be from Pakistan
LAHORE–June 26, 2014: Pakistan has made extraordinarily significant gains at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual meeting at Melbourne Thursday. Of the three major concessions that PCB Chairman Mr. Najam Sethi was able to secure to Pakistan’s great advantage are: After N. Srinivasan’s election as the first ICC Chairman in a landslide, India has officially turned the MOUs signed earlier this year with regard to six rubbers between the two nations, four of these to be hosted by the PCB in the UAE or Pakistan with mutual consent, into binding agreements straightaway. The six tours are now part of the Future Tours Programme and are to be played from 2015 to 2023.
Another major achievement was the ICC agreeing Thursday to grant Pakistan the fourth rank after the 'Big Three' – India, England and Australia – in terms of the percentage of revenue to be received from the ICC in the next eight years from broadcasting and other rights on ICC fixtures.
The third big recognition is, the ICC confirming Pakistan to get the position of the global body's President for one year with effect from June 2015.
This is a sea change from the situation when Pakistan stood utterly isolated when Mr. Sethi was reappointed as the PCB Chairman by the Patron, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the second week of February.
“The PCB had organized itself and planned to get maximum advantage for Pakistan cricket from an extremely precarious position. We have accomplished all our objectives. And I am positive that in the times to come Pakistan Cricket shall greatly benefit from what PCB has been able to obtain for it today”, said Mr. Sethi speaking from Melbourne.
