KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja on Tuesday visited the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) to interact with the business community.
The recently-elected PCB Chairman arrived in Karachi to seek help from the business community on having a strong financial system for Pakistan cricket. Raja said Pakistan cricket was running on funding from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and needs to be strengthened.
Addressing the business community at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), he said that huge investments were being made in cricket boards of other countries. He added a solid financial system was indispensable for cricket in Pakistan. In comparison with neighbouring India, the PCB’s investment in Pakistan cricket was only 5 percent.
“We will strive to make the national side number one and improve the infrastructure of the cricket. We have to improve the economy of the cricket as well,” he stressed.
Raja said he was working on the skills of Pakistani cricketers as the T20 World Cup 2021 nears. He remained optimistic about bringing an excellent team to the global cricketing event.
He said if the business community invested in Pakistan cricket, the money would be spent to improve the conditions of cricket grounds. He added disappointment that work was not done at grassroot level as it should have been done in the past and local cricket lagged far behind.
Regarding the New Zealand pullout from the Pakistan tour recently, Raja said that no country could dare to take such a step again for two reasons. “One, if your team was the best in the world, and second, if your cricket economy was strong,” he said.
Raja is also scheduled to meet with representatives of corporate institutions and business leaders. Chief Operating Officer PCB Salman Naseer is accompanying him during the visit.
