Abu Dhabi matches not part of off-shore ODIs

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today clarified that the two ODIs scheduled between India and Pakistan at Abu Dhabi on April 18 and 19 are separate from the off-shore matches planned between the two countries in the coming years.

The marketing of the tournament is solely with the Indian board, because it was the BCCI which took the initiative to organise a cricketing event in aid of the earthquake relief fund, Abbas Zaidi, director operations of the PCB, said in a press release. Both countries were badly affected by the earthquake which struck the northern areas of the Indian subcontinent late last year.

There were plans to dedicate a Twenty20 match to the victims during India's recent tour of Pakistan but had to be scrapped owing to time constraints. Consequently, the BCCI officials and the PCB chairman spoke to the authorities in Abu Dhabi and secured their consent. According to the agreement between the two boards, 75% of the proceeds from the first ODI would go towards earthquake relief in Pakistan, while those from the second game would be split between the two boards.

Regarding the payment of Pakistan's share of the 1996 World Cup jointly organised by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the current Indian board has taken measures to settle the PCB's long-standing claim. The actual transfer of funds should take place within the next couple of weeks after completion of routine formalities, the release said.