As World Cup hosts Sri Lanka to get US $4.5m

KARACHI: The co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup -- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh -- will earn half a million dollars for every match they stage besides a share in the profits.

Shafqat Naghmi, Chief Operating Officer of the PCB, said in the last World Cup, held in the Caribbean, the ICC gave the hosts 46 per cent of the total earnings, but the hosts pressed for a new formula.

“But for the 2011 event, the formula has been changed as they are four hosts instead of one. Had we gone by the old formula, each country would have hardly got 12 per cent of the total earnings,” Naghmi.

Pakistan is due to host 16 matches of the World Cup which would earn them around $8 million besides the percentage profits.

Sri Lanka is due to host nine matches (including one semi-final) and they will receive around $4.5 million in addition to percentage profits.

Naghmi also said the ICC and the host countries would finalise the format for the next World Cup this year.

“The hosts are in favour of a format, where the 16 teams are split into four groups and top two teams of each group then play in a super eights stage.”

He said the common visa issue would also be worked out soon.