PCB offers ‘final solution’ to address HBL PSL franchises’ financial concerns

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered the final solution to address the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises’ concerns through a revised financial model, according to sources. 

The franchises have been given one week’s time to assess the model, proposed by the PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja after meetings with team owners and officials, and share their point of view.

The league’s financial model has been a major source of discord between the PCB and the franchises, over the years. The franchises claim that they have been suffering losses and the only way to make them better off is through a revised and more equitable financial model.

The disagreement over the model also led to the six franchises collectively filing a writ petition against the PCB, last year. However, later, the two parties decided to settle their outstanding issues out of court which is why the legal suit was disposed of by the Lahore High Court.

Previously, the PCB, led by former chairman Ehsan Mani and CEO Wasim Khan, and the franchises discussed various financial models but were unable to find a solution due to legal complications. In a bid to address the legal side of things, a judicial review was carried out by Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. However, Jillani’s report was not shared with the franchises because PCB considers it as a confidential document.

Key elements of the proposed financial model:

• Franchises will get 95 per cent share, after excluding expenses, from the central pool of revenue
• The dollar rate, at the time when the model is approved, will be fixed for franchise fee
• Franchises won’t be given permanent rights (10-year agreement will remain intact)
• Independent valuation of franchises will be carried out after four years. The estimated value will be used to increase franchise fee by 25 per cent
• Covid-19 relief for HBL PSL 5 and 6 (98 per cent of share from central pool of revenue) 

The success of the proposed financial model will depend largely on the new broadcasting and title sponsorship deals for the league. Better deals will ensure an increase in central pool of revenue and consequently ease the burden on franchises.

Sources have also revealed that franchises want more favourable exchange rate terms, instead of using the current dollar rate, which currently stands at 172 and could fluctuate further, as it increases financial burden on the owners.

ALSO READ: England cricketers would tour Pakistan, says frustrated Mushtaq Ahmed

Some of the franchises have also suggested that the process of annual fees and income sharing should be stopped after the 10^th edition of the league. After that, the franchises will focus on earning revenue from sponsorships and other streams of income.

According to the current financial model, the PCB receives 15.65 million dollars in franchise fees annually. It also has a 20 per cent share in broadcast revenue, 40 per cent share in title and other sponsorship deals and 30 per cent share in gate money.

Meanwhile, franchises get equal share from central pool of revenue despite differences in fees paid by each team.  

It must be noted that the PCB has always maintained its stance that the franchises signed the agreement after reading the terms and conditions so they should be the ones responsible for assessing the gains and losses. On the other hand, the franchises state that they were given assurances by the former PCB Chairman Najam Sethi over the league’s profitability, when it returned to Pakistan, but that has not been the case so far.

Sources added that the franchises are also keen on avoiding confrontation with Raja and want to reach a mutually beneficial solution.