PCB looks to cut down costs

LAHORE: Efforts are underway at the Pakistan Cricket Board to cut down heavily on the administrative expenditure of running the organisation as the board struggles with the financial crunch caused by the spate of postponed series and tournaments in 2008.

Wasim Bari has recently been appointed director HR and administration and is keen on trimming expenses. "Needless appointments made to the board will be terminated to reduce the overall expenditures," he said.

Three areas will be looked at in particular to cut down costs. General administrative costs are to be cut down by at least 50%. The budgets of each director and their department will also be revised, this time, say officials, based on more accurate forecasts. Finally, capital expenditure on stadiums through the country will be halted. The only exceptions are the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and Rawalpindi, where the renovation work is yet to be completed.

Pakistan suffered heavy losses this year after Australia pulled out of a full series in March-April and the Champions Trophy was postponed, both due to security concerns. The current administration has also accused Nasim Ashraf"s regime of whittling down the PCB"s treasury dramatically over the last two years. The number of PCB employees ballooned under Ashraf"s time, going from approximately 300 to an estimated 700, though officials dispute this figure.