What’s an Indo-Pak cricket series without a bit of intrigue? Even before the tour dates have been announced, the contentious issue of TV rights — a cash cow everyone’s trying to milk — has taken a farcical twist: Zahid Bashir, a former employee of the Pakistan Control Board, is currently in India ‘‘negotiating’’ deals with top Indian networks. While the networks are unable to explain their involvement, the PCB says that not only does Bashir have no locus standi to sell the rights for the series, they have already been sold! 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. It’s a stand shared by Ten Sports CEO Chris McDonald, who says the PCB has made it ‘‘abundantly clear’’ that they hold the rights. The only variable now, he says, is the sale — perhaps to DD — of a highlights package. Not so easy, says Bashir, who was the PCB’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 — who has sued the PCB over his dismissal — has made his status clear up front. So what is he trying to do? ‘‘I’m calling for fresh bids’’, he told The Indian Express in New Delhi. ‘‘I believe there was no proper bid for the rights. The five ODIs and three Tests are worth $18 million — the PCB will lose around $10 million if the deal with Ten Sports goes through.’’ Bashir claims Prasar Bharati has offered $15 million while another network is bidding $16.2 million — 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 Bashir’s credentials were suspect, Sarma said he’s now sought the advice of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. ‘‘If they say go ahead, we will’’, he said. Zee’s Laxmi Goel also said he’d met Bashir but declined to give details. While Bashir considers himself an official of the PCB — ‘‘I still travel in the car given to me in the capacity of GM (marketing)’’ — the PCB’s Raja believes he’s a ‘‘loose cannon’’ who craves recognition and has warned of a criminal case being filed against him. And, though Bashir says his cause is to protect his country’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. ‘‘That will be the day when the truth will come out on the subject of cricket’’, says Bashir. Much more likely, though, is another twist in this tale.
