NEW DELHI, Mar 14: In a move that has raised questions about the financial health of the Pakistani cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has resorted to cost-cutting measures including slashing the match fees of players in domestic cricket.
The PCB has reduced the match fees of cricketers participating in the upcoming National T20 Championship from 100,000 rupees per match to 10,000 per match with reserve players getting 5000 per match. The tournament got underway on Friday.
The reduction in match fees has caused concern among players and the board is also considering spending less on development of domestic cricket. According to sources, the head of domestic cricket in the PCB, Abdullah Khurrum Niazi, has been “reducing facilities” for domestic players in the last few months.
“The players who were first being offered accommodation at five-star and four-star hotels are now being offered cheaper accommodation. Air travel has also been reduced for them besides fees,” a source said. Another source said outstanding payments from last season are yet to be cleared for players and umpires.
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Additionally, the PCB is yet to implement an annual pension increase for former Test cricketers, as mandated by board policy. The irony, according to one source, is that while match fees for players are being reduced, officials taking these decisions are getting monthly salaries in millions. The PCB at the same time is also paying hefty monthly salaries to national selectors and even mentors appointed with five teams for the just-concluded Champions Cup.
Meanwhile, causing more humiliation to the Pakistani players, the country’s all the 50 players on offer for The Hundred tournament, including five women and 45 men cricketers, have gone unsold in the auction. While Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf did not find any takers amid tough competition in the women’s pool, many big names from the men’s team also went unsold. The names included the likes of Imad Wasim, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali with fast bowler Naseem Shah being the highest-priced among them. This was even as Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad and New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell got the best deals with Noor joining Manchester Originals while Bracewell was picked by Southern Brave. Former Australia cricketer David Warner was picked by London Spirit.
(Manas Dasgupta)