Anger at decision to underwrite Australia v Pakistan Test at Headingley

[Decipher]

Taxpayers have been caught out to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds after Bradford Council “gambled” on an international cricket event which flopped.

The Council stumped up £50,000 to help underwrite last summer’s Test match between Pakistan and Australia at Headingley, Leeds.

But the public failed to be bowled over by the match, with fewer than a quarter of the ground’s 16,000 seats being sold.

Yesterday Yorkshire County Cricket Club blamed the poorly-attended event for a £2 million loss in 2010 – after a record-breaking £8.4m turnover the previous year.

It has emerged that Yorkshire CCC had turned down the chance of hosting an England Test match at Headingley against Bangladesh. Instead, it plumped for bidding for the Pakistan-Australia clash against venues around the country.

A number of supporters, including Bradford Council, put in money to underwrite the event. That is now lost.

The club’s director of finance, Charles Hartwell, said: “They won’t get the money back.”

Mr Hartwell confirmed Bradford Council was one of Yorkshire CCC’s partners for the Test match played last July.

He said: “They organised a reception for the Pakistan team in Bradford and were one of a number of supporters. There was also a civic reception and an open top bus tour. They felt they were doing something for Bradford’s high Asian population.” Bradford Council leader Ian Greenwood last night blamed the decision on the authority’s previous Conservative-ruled administration.

As well as the £50,000 given to Yorkshire CCC, the Council funded a civic reception at Cartwright Hall for the Pakistan team.

Councillor Greenwood said he would be demanding answers on why Council taxpayers’ money was spent on the Test match.

He said: “I haven’t seen the business case that was put at the time, which we will have to look at. But, in the circumstances which we are in, it clearly isn’t appropriate to take gambles on sporting events.

“At some stage there was some sort of bidding process. I am not clear what that was. It was a decision taken by the previous administration.”

Coun Greenwood added: “I will be asking for an explanation of what took place. It’s perfectly reasonable for people to ask why we did it and people should have an explanation."

Keighley Conservative MP Kris Hopkins, who was Bradford Council leader until the local elections last May, said the Council had been approached by Yorkshire CCC.

He said: “They wanted financial support to make sure the match went forward. There was a discussion across the Council. The chief executive was approached. He had a conversation with our political leaders. There was a decision taken.

“It was a large significant event in close proximity. There was a sizeable number of people who might be interested in the community in a major sporting event involving significant cricketing nations. We thought it was the right thing to do.”

But Shipley Tory MP Philip Davies said: “People don’t pay their council tax in order to be sporting promoters. They pay to have their bins emptied and their roads gritted. I think it is absolutely outrageous and I would like a commitment from the Council that they will never indulge in this kind of activity again.”

Bradford East Liberal Democrat MP David Ward said: “It is the last thing Bradford Council needs when it is facing pretty awful cuts. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Every single penny is important.”

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.u...s_making_Test/

[Poison]

I couldn't find a relevant thread ... when does Pakistan next tour Australia?

[Sir_Afridi]

Originally Posted by Poison I couldn't find a relevant thread ... when does Pakistan next tour Australia?

I hope Pakistan tour Aus after 2015 when comes back

[Mohsin]

Feel sorry for them

Id have picked Australia-Pakistan over England-Bangladesh 10 times out of 10. Youd have expected a much bigger turn-out!

[Poison]

Mohsin this is a very old thread

I have posed a new question ... answer or face consequences.

[Mohsin]

Consequences? From an Aussie?
Things are changing dude...we're now actually winning the Ashes (pretty easily)...its almost 30+ degrees today today in London and we're bathed in sunshine....bring it ooooon!

*i hope he doesnt realise im just a keyboard warrior and actually ****ing my pants right now*

Nah but seriously, i dunno...we toured them last in 2009 so im guessing 2013/14?

[Shayan]

Re the OP, I went to 3 out 5 days of that test match so I can't be blamed :p

[PakFan2010]

£60 for Adults was a rip off.

For Asians to bring there whole family it would cost around £200 pounds and thats not even including food which was a rip off.

How is one expected to spend £200 in one day when they earn £300 a week from taxis

Who is going to buy curry powder from the shop.

[sh47]

Originally Posted by PakFan2010 £60 for Adults was a rip off. For Asians to bring there whole family it would cost around £200 pounds and thats not even including food which was a rip off. How is one expected to spend £200 in one day when they earn £300 a week from taxis Who is going to buy curry powder from the shop.

Lol Typical British pakistani

[Cracket]

TL: DR, cricket is dead. Or maybe the crowd didn't came because Aus vs Pak has been a little too 1 sided lately?

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by Cracket TL: DR, cricket is dead. Or maybe the crowd didn't came because Aus vs Pak test has been a little too 1 sided lately?

Well they clearly made a mistake then didnt they

[Shayan]

Originally Posted by Cracket TL: DR, cricket is dead. Or maybe the crowd didn't came because Aus vs Pak has been a little too 1 sided lately?

We bowled them out for 88 on the 1st day and were on top of the game throughout, yet hardly anyone came.

Even on the last day when we had a small number of runs to win and entry was either free or £5, very few people came.

I think it had very little to do with the price and more a case of "test cricket is boring", something we've already seen in test matches in Pakistan.

[Cracket]

Originally Posted by Shayan I think it had very little to do with the price and more a case of "test cricket is boring", something we've already seen in test matches in Pakistan.

How well were the Ashes tests sold? I think there's other factors at play, we see empty seats in England vs Sri Lanka now but England vs India tests are already sold out.

[Shayan]

Originally Posted by Cracket How well were the Ashes tests sold? I think there's other factors at play, we see empty seats in England vs Sri Lanka now but England vs India tests are already sold out.

I agree, because English and Australia fans appreciate test cricket much more than Pakistani fans. Don't get me wrong, I prefer test cricket and it disappointed me as much as anyone that the Headingley test vs Australia wasn't better attended.

As for England-Sri Lanka, it's obvious what the biggest drawcard of the summer is, hence the India games are sold out, but even so, the Lords test today has go a good number of people.

It's a mentality thing, the English have always preferred test cricket. And good on them.

[PakFan2010]

Originally Posted by sh47 Lol Typical British pakistani

I actually went to Day 1 of the match though?

[sh47]

Originally Posted by PakFan2010 I actually went to Day 1 of the match though?

Fair enough you got value for money in the end

[PakFan2010]

Originally Posted by sh47 Fair enough you got value for money in the end

Don't forget

[Waq]

This is disappointing to hear. The council's intention seems to be honourable as there is a sizeable Pakistani community in Bradford. Their mistake was they used public money for honourable intentions without what it seems is a strong / researched business case.

Test matches have indeed been poorly attended by Pakistani's in the UK. I can comment on London in 2010, as I went to all 4 days of Pakistan v England at Oval and two days at Lords. I honestly feel that on some days at the Oval, there were no more than 30 - 50 Pakistani supporters and that was when the capacity was near full!

It comes down to pricing and preference. We Pakistanis are happy to pay £50 - £100 for ODIs and T20's but not for a test match.

In a way I actually prefer it as I do not want all the Bruvs and noise whilst watching a test. I want to appreciate the game properly. When Pakistan won against England at the Oval, there were a few more Pakistanis than normal but still relatively low compared to England. Despite this, the atmosphere was great when Pakistan won.

Bradford council should of really realised the pricing issue but no doubt the civil servant who created the business case was a die hard cricket fan.

In a way, we missed out on a great chance to make UK an interim home for Pakistan cricket. If our ticket sales were great, then the county grounds would be happy to host our matches even if England were playing at the same time. Due to our love of the pyjama format, we may now be exiled to the flat decks of UAE and even that is not definite.