BCCI gets bountiful

MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board is expected to make a killing out of the proposed tri-nation series in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur next month. This is not to suggest that the other two participating nations in the championship — Australia and West Indies — will not gain much. In fact, Cricket Australia and West Indies Cricket Board too will swell their coffers substantially.

According to a broad arrangement between the Indian Board and with CA and WICB, the BCCI will pay them about $1 million for each match involving India. The money for the matches not involving India — that is between West Indies and Australia — will be a bit less, the amount still not being decided.

However, the seven-match tournament is still expected to fetch the BCCI more than $25 million — that is after paying the two other participating boards.

Both Australia and West Indies are scheduled to play a minimum of two matches each against India and that means the two boards are assured of $2 million. If India are to reach the final, one of the two teams will surely earn another million dollars.

Besides, the two boards are expected to pocket a substantial figure for the two matches they will play between themselves. All said, CA and WICB are certain to earn at least  $3 million from their trip to Asia. The BCCI will bear the expenses of the two teams’ travel and stay in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

India has also decided to part with some of its earnings for the development of cricket in the two host countries. Earlier, BCCI is believed to have donated $1 million for the development of Abu Dhabi Cricket Council, for hosting two matches in April this year.

The other liabilities for the Board are the organisational expenses for the seven matches, four of which will be played under lights in Kuala Lumpur. The CA, which is extending organisational help to the BCCI for the tournament, will also install temporary lights in the Malaysian Capital.

Despite all the commitments and liabilities, the Board is confident of earning over $25 million — the profit may even be $30 million.

Board secretary Niranjan Shah confirmed that the BCCI earnings will be close to $30 million.

“The final figure will be known after we open the tenders on August 14 for the grounds rights and title sponsorship,” Shah disclosed.

The Board’s main source of revenue will be from the sale of television rights. The Board will get about $5.8 million per match from Zee Sports, which holds the media rights for these overseas matches. One BCCI official confirmed that the Board’s offer of $1 million for one match is unprecedented. No wonder, the other boards (including the cash rich Cricket Australia) are lining up before the BCCI to play the off-shore matches.