PCB threatens to cancel 2009 tour to Australia

PCB has threatened to cancel tour Down Under in 2009 if Australia do not play the postponed series in Pakistan the same year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to cancel the team’s tour to Australia in late 2009 if the world champions do not play their postponed series in Pakistan in April the same year.

PCB sources said the board was under pressure to explain the insurance policy cover it took for the March-April Australian tour to Pakistan which was postponed by the Australians on the advice of independent security consultants and its high commission in Islamabad.

The PCB had announced a few months ago that it had insured the series for USD 7.4 million and if the Australians didn’t come for security or other reasons they would not suffer financial losses because of the comprehensive cover.

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“But now it appears there is a lacuna in the insurance policy as it does not cover a postponed tour. And the PCB will have to cough up a hefty additional premium payment if the policy is to be extended for the Australian tour,” one source said.

However, a top PCB official said the insurance was not just for the Australian tour but for all series in Pakistan which are part of the FTP.

“We are negotiating with the insurance company over the additional premium because the Australian tour has been postponed not cancelled,” one board official said.

Ironically the PCB cannot claim compensation from Cricket Australia for the tour as it has not been cancelled but postponed.

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Sources said to make sure the tour didn’t remain postponed for long, the PCB has told its Australian counterparts to play here in April 2009 or else it would also reconsider its commitment to tour Australia later that year.

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