India Controls World Cricket, Whatever They Say Goes: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

England and New Zealand had canceled their tour to Pakistan recently. Like many other members of Pakistan cricketing fraternity, Imran Khan too expressed disappointment over ECB and NZC's approach.

AFP

New Delhi: Ex-Pakistan skipper and current Prime Minister Imran Khan has given a big statement on India and its influence on world cricket. Days after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja said that India has the power to shut down PCB, Imran Khan said Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest board in the world, so it controls world cricket. 

England and New Zealand had canceled their tour to Pakistan recently. Like many other members of Pakistan cricketing fraternity, Imran Khan too expressed disappointment over ECB and NZC's approach. PM Khan said that no one would dare to do the same with India due to BCCI's financial powers. 

“England let itself down. I think that there is still this feeling in England that they do a great favour to play with countries like Pakistan. One of the reasons is that, obviously, the money,” Imran said in a conversation with Middle East Eye.

“Money is a big player now. For the players, as well as for the cricket boards. The money lies in India, so basically, India controls world cricket now. I mean, they do, whatever they say goes. No one would dare do that to India because they know that the sums involved, India can sort of produce much more money,” he added.

BCCI will host the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 17 and Pakistan has been placed in the same group as India. In the upcoming T20 World Cup, India has to play its first match against Pakistan on October 24.

Few days ago, PCB chief Ramiz Raza had said PM Modi can shut down Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) the day he wants to.

“Pakistan Cricket Board runs on 50% of ICC funding. ICC funding is received from their member boards. ICC’s 90% funding is received from India. In one way, India’s business houses are running the Pakistan cricket board. Tomorrow, if the Indian Prime Minister decides that we don’t want to fund Pakistan anymore, the PCB can collapse. 90% of ICC’s funding are driven by India,” Ramiz had said.