PCL ready to roll

After the grand success of the first edition, the Port City League (PCL) to be held in Sharjah this season will see 100,000 dollars up for grabs for the winners, said organisers yesterday.
Apart from the champions, the runners-up will receive 30,000 dollars with the budget of the tournament going up to Tk 7 crore.
All this was revealed at a press conference in the port city where it was also informed that eight teams would take part in the competition.
The PCL chairman AJM Nasiruddin said that they could collect around Tk 5 crore till now and hoped to collect the rest of the money of the budget soon.
“The title sponsor Bashundhara Group gave Tk 2.5 crore while satellite television channel ATN Bangla, which bought the broadcast rights, co-sponsors First Security Bank and other sponsors including MEB Group, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, Sonali Bank, Rupali Bank, Banaful, RF Properties and Habib Exchange helped financially to hold the tournament in abroad,” he said.
Nasiruddin guaranteed of transparency when it comes to the finances of the venture.
“All the money are being received with optimum transparency and the media will be informed about the expenditure and earnings after completion of the tournament,” he said.
Asked about the PCL foundation, Nasiruddin said the foundation is a totally different entity from the Divisional Sports Association which is organising the tournament for the second time.
“We formed the foundation to promote sports in Chittagong and would try to assist the players who are deprived and distressed,” he said adding that a group is conspiring against them.
“We can talk openly with anyone regarding the transparency of the PCL,” he added.
Meanwhile, the trophy unveiling ceremony of the tournament will be held at the Hotel Sheraton in the capital tomorrow.

Courtesy of The Daily Star