Pakistan Players Yet To Sign Central Contracts; Express Displeasure Against PCB: Reports
Pakistan are currently engaged in a two-Test series in Sri Lanka [AP Photo]
The internal turmoil within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has created problems in the past and continues to hamper the national payers. As per Cricket Pakistan, several top-grade Pakistan cricketers have expressed their unhappiness over PCB's upcoming central contract deals.
Pakistan's Test team led by Babar Azam is currently playing the second and final Test in Sri Lanka against the hosts, despite having their central contracts expire on June 30. Both parties are yet to come to terms regarding pay scale, with Azam and co. demanding to meet PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf.
Apart from pay hikes, other demands include family and health insurance coverage, education policy, disclosure of sponsors, share from ICC-event revenues, and most importantly transparency over NOC for franchise cricket.
The report further suggests that Pakistan cricketers are paid way less than their counterparts. For example, Azam, who is the No.1 Ranked ODI batter, does not even rank in the top 10 most salaried cricketers.
PCB in the past has demanded USD 25,000 per player as a participation fee in leagues like MLC and Global T20, which has been questioned, with the players making just USD 5,000.
The meeting between the players and PCB officials is expected to take place once the Pakistan national team arrives from Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, who lead the 2-Test series 1-0, find themselves in a position of strength, pinning down Sri Lanka to 79 for 4 on Day 1 of the ongoing Colombo Test.
 "Vishal Mehra")
