LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar Khan on Monday said that the board had signed a proper contract with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2014 as a result of which the PCB had favoured India while supporting the now defunct Big Three formula, and it was not just an MoU for the resumption of bilateral series between the two countries.

“We have received a reply from the BCCI about our notice sent to them for not fulfilling the contract and because of it the PCB has suffered huge financial losses.

The BCCI’s reply has two objections,” Shaharyar told Dawn from Karachi. “Firstly, there is no term is included in the contract under which the word of government’s permission is mentioned as necessary. Secondly, it was not an MoU but a contract as India sought PCB’s support for the Big Three formula, from which it earned huge revenue as a member of Big Three.

“Our benefit was only if the bilateral series would have started, which could not be happened, causing us massive losses.

“Our legal team has prepared the case on strong footings and now we will again send a response to the BCCI’s letter before moving to the ICC dispute resolve committee.”

Elaborating further, the PCB chief said: “Let me clear that the PCB’s case is strong and we will go to the last stage to win at the ICC level since it is our right to demand justice.”

Last week, the PCB had sent a notice to BCCI, seeking claims reportedly of $6.4 million for India’s refusal to honour the contract, which was signed three years ago. “It is not our [government] but the Indian government which is creating hurdles in the way of resumption of bilateral cricket and as that term related to the government’s permission is not included in the contract, so, it is not our responsibility to get permission from the Indian government,” he said.

Both the countries have not played bilateral cricket since 2007 when Pakistan visited India for a full series.

Meanwhile, Shaharyar said he was on a three-day visit to Karachi to have talks with high-ups including Sindh chief minister, chief secretary and DG Rangers Sindh on resumption of international cricket in the city.

“We are expecting some international cricket in near future and we also want to hold some matches in Karachi for which detailed meetings with the high-ups of Sindh government are necessary,” Shaharyar said.

Published in Dawn, May 09th, 2017