Meet Bashir, the new Pak 145;spinner146; on TV

PCB CEO Rameez Raja says the TV rights are with Ten Sports, who signed a 42.6 million, five-year deal with the PCB in July 2002 for all matches played in Pakistan. Written into the deal was a clause stipulating that, if India toured Pakistan, Ten would pay around 7 million for that series alone.

It8217;s a stand shared by Ten Sports CEO Chris McDonald, who says the PCB has made it 8216;8216;abundantly clear8217;8217; that they hold the rights. The only variable now, he says, is the sale 8212; perhaps to DD 8212; of a highlights package.

Not so easy, says Bashir, who was the PCB8217;s general manager marketing till he was sacked on January 1. Over the past couple of days, he has met top officials of Prasar Bharati, Zee and Sahara and says he has had offers for the telecast rights from Prasar Bharati and another major network.

Interestingly, at these meetings, Bashir 8212; who has sued the PCB over his dismissal 8212; has made his status clear up front. So what is he trying to do? 8216;8216;I8217;m calling for fresh bids8217;8217;, he told The Indian Express in New Delhi. 8216;8216;I believe there was no proper bid for the rights. The five ODIs and three Tests are worth 18 million 8212; the PCB will lose around 10 million if the deal with Ten Sports goes through.8217;8217;

Bashir claims Prasar Bharati has offered 15 million while another network is bidding 16.2 million 8212; big money compared to what Ten Sports has paid.

Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma refused to comment on the bid but admitted to twice meeting Bashir.

Asked why, when Bashir8217;s credentials were suspect, Sarma said he8217;s now sought the advice of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. 8216;8216;If they say go ahead, we will8217;8217;, he said.

Zee8217;s Laxmi Goel also said he8217;d met Bashir but declined to give details.

While Bashir considers himself an official of the PCB 8212; 8216;8216;I still travel in the car given to me in the capacity of GM marketing8217;8217; 8212; the PCB8217;s Raja believes he8217;s a 8216;8216;loose cannon8217;8217; who craves recognition and has warned of a criminal case being filed against him.

And, though Bashir says his cause is to protect his country8217;s interests, cricket circles in Lahore, where the PCB is based, say he is most likely gathering evidence for his case, which will be heard in the Supreme Court on February 9. 8216;8216;That will be the day when the truth will come out on the subject of cricket8217;8217;, says Bashir.

Much more likely, though, is another twist in this tale.