Flying Pakistan over: ECB set to spend half a million pounds

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is likely to spend around half a million pounds, inorder to fly Pakistan team over, through a chartered flight, ahead of three Tests and three Twenty20 International (T20I) series between the two sides — Daily Mail reported.   

Initially, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was set to depart for England in the first week of July but the date was brought forward after the training camp in Lahore was cancelled due to increase in novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the country.

ECB are now chartering a plane at an earlier date, June 26-29 in all probability, to help Pakistan prepare adequately for the series.

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Pakistan's tour of England is worth around £70m and £75m to the ECB in broadcast revenue, which is why the £500,000 for chartered flight is a manageable expense.

The PCB has already announced a 29-member touring party for England Tests and T20Is.

Players are likely to remain in quarantine for a two-week period, in Birmingham, before moving to Manchester for the first Test on August 5, the report added. The second and third Tests will take place at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, with three T20Is to be held between August 28 and September 1.

Trying to salvage lucrative men's internationals is the priority for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with chief executive Tom Harrison warning a complete wipeout of the 2020 season could cost the governing body £380 million ($469 million).