| MUMBAI:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will suffer a revenue loss of
Rs 1.2 billion this year due to cancellation of matches following terror turmoil
in Pakistan and India, a senior official said. "The
working committee, which met in Mumbai today, noted that there would be a reduction
in revenue in the current year to the effect of Rs 1.2 billion, as a result of
the cancellation of two ODIs against England, and the cancellation of India's
tour to Pakistan. This includes the loss of revenue arising out of the postponement
of ICC Champions Trophy 2008," BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said in a statement.
The
Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan, was postponed after teams
refused to travel citing security concern. Besides,
England's last two ODIs (scheduled at Guwahati and Delhi) were cancelled as they
returned home following the Mumbai terror attacks. The Indian government also
scrapped the tour to Pakistan due to strained bilateral ties.
BCCI, however, clarified that none of the sponsors associated with it were delinquent
in payments, adding that it would have a “a healthy excess of income over
expenditure" for the current year. Said
Srinivasan, "The BCCI clarifies that none of the sponsors associated with
it are delinquent in payments. No default has been committed and BCCI enjoys a
healthy relationship with all sponsors."
As part of its plans to expand the reach of cricket, BCCI has decided to conduct
an Inter-Corporate tournament to encourage employment opportunities for cricketers.
This tournament will be held annually in the fifty-over and Twenty20 formats with
the winner taking prize money of Rs 10 million. The runner-up will get Rs 5 million,
while the second-runner-up will take away Rs 2.5 million. | 
