Sri Lanka demands USD 2 million for One-day series

KARACHI: Pakistan's attempts to undertake an unscheduled tour of Sri Lanka later this month seems destined for failure as the Sri Lankan board has demanded a whopping two million dollars for the proposed one-day series.

Sources told PTI that a leading sports channel from Dubai had offered to broadcast the series on a barter basis and are willing to treat it as a one-off event.

"Ten sports have offered to bear all production costs for the series in return for getting the rights of the series and then arranging for the title sponsorship and other revenues and paying all expenses. But the Sri Lankan board is demanding two million dollars payment for the television rights itself," the source said.

He said the Pakistan cricket Board had informed the television channel it would be content with an appearance fee of around five to seven hundred thousands dollars for playing the matches besides prize money to be offered for the series.

"But the Sri Lankans are adamant they get paid two million dollars for the series rights by the channel which is willing to bear all expenses for the planned series," the source said.

Pakistan expressed interest in playing the series in Sri Lanka after they failed to convince the South African cricket union to urgently arrange a one-day tri-series also involving Sri Lanka.

Cricket SA informed the PCB two days ago that it couldn't hold the series as it wanted its players to take a rest after a hectic tour of England.