Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is prepared to allocate a significant budget for cricketers’ compensation. The central contracts of national cricketers expired on June 30, and negotiations are ongoing with players who have put forth their demands. In recent days, senior cricketers also met with officials from Sri Lanka.
In an interview with “Cricket Pakistan,” Zaka Ashraf, Chairman of the Management Committee, stated that the board is committed to ensuring players are well-paid to boost their dedication to the team. The PCB has reportedly agreed to offer an extraordinary increase in salaries, proposing a monthly retainership fee of Rs 45 lakh for top cricketers, such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who play in all three formats.
Under the previous contract, red-ball players received a monthly compensation of 1.5 million, while white-ball players received 9.5 million.
Regarding foreign leagues, there were discussions about providing one No-Objection Certificate (NOC) per year to A category cricketers, two to B category, and three to C category players. However, the demand to share money received from ICC or PCB contracts was not accepted.
The PCB aims to offer a three-year contract to avoid annual renewal conflicts and has proposed a substantial increase in Test match fees to attract players to the format, along with other incentives.
In the past year, the fee was increased by 10%, with Test match fees set at 8 lakh 38 thousand 530 rupees, One Day International (ODI) fees at 5 lakh 15 thousand 696 rupees, and T20 International fees at 3 lakh 72 thousand 75 rupees. All categories of players received the same fee, but there is now a call for a hike.
PCB officials are aware that Pakistani cricketers miss out on earning opportunities like other top international stars due to their non-participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Although 100% compensation may not be possible, the board aims to provide substantial financial comfort to the players.
Misbah-ul-Haq, the head of the Cricket Technical Committee, is engaging with the players, and positive developments are expected soon.
Last year, separate agreements were made for red and white ball formats. Only Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi were included in the A category for both formats, while other players were categorized differently based on their performance and involvement in red and white-ball cricket.
