ICC agrees to grant 'Big Four' status to Pakistan: PCB

Agreement was reached between BCCI and PCB to play six series between 2015 and 2023.

LAHORE (Web Desk) – The International cricket Council (ICC) has agreed to grant fourth rank to Pakistan after the  Big Three,  the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday.

Pakistan has made extraordinarily significant gains at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual meeting at Melbourne on Thursday, the PCB stated in a press release.

“Of the three major concessions that PCB Chairman Mr. Najam Sethi was able to secure to Pakistan’s great advantage are: After N. Srinivasan’s election as the first ICC Chairman in a landslide, India has officially turned the MOUs signed earlier this year with regard to six rubbers between the two nations, four of these to be hosted by the PCB in the UAE or Pakistan with mutual consent, into binding agreements straightaway. The six tours are now part of the Future Tours Programme and are to be played from 2015 to 2023,” the PCB said.

The board further stated “another major achievement was the ICC agreeing Thursday to grant Pakistan the fourth rank after the  Big Three  – India, England and Australia – in terms of the percentage of revenue to be received from the ICC in the next eight years from broadcasting and other rights on ICC fixtures.”

The ICC has also confirmed that Pakistan will get the position of the global body s President for two years with effect from June 2015.

“The PCB had organized itself and planned to get maximum advantage for Pakistan cricket from an extremely precarious position. We have accomplished all our objectives." PCB chief Najam Sethi said while speaking in Melbourne. 

He hoped that in the times to come Pakistan Cricket shall greatly benefit from what PCB has been able to obtain for it today.

source : dunya news