Pakistan players were pivotal in Dhaka Gladiators’ win in the inaugural edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. PHOTO: BPL
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to hold back its players from participating in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was met with disapproval by the cricketers who rarely get a chance to take part in similar cash-strapped events.
The second edition of BPL – starting on January 18 – signed 26 Pakistan cricketers including Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi who were sold for the highest amount at $280,000 and $275,000 respectively. The list of Pakistan cricketers also includes those who have yet to play at the international level with the upcoming tournament was the golden opportunity for them to earn handsome purse.
However, they were deprived of the chance as the PCB decided to refuse to issue NOCs to them following Bangladesh’s cancellation of their team’s tour to Pakistan.
“The PCB’s CEO Subhan Ahmed said if we don’t send the Bangladesh team on tour to Pakistan, they won’t give NOCs to their players to participate in the BPL,” said BCB’s media committee chairman Jalal Yunus. “We will hold the tournament without their participation and it will start as per schedule. I couldn’t imagine that they could deliberately wait for so long to inform us that they won’t give the NOCs.”
BCB bypassed PCB for player signing
Meanwhile, a PCB spokesperson said the BCB contacted Pakistan players directly instead of talking to the Board.
“As per practice and procedures in vogue, a home board has to approach the visiting players’ Board seeking release of its players for their domestic cricket competitions,” said the official. “In the BPL’s case, the BCB, their representatives and the players’ agents were in contact with the Pakistan cricketers and the PCB was kept in the dark. Even the auction of Pakistan players at BPL was done without PCB’s prior permission. It is a cause of embarrassment when boards are bypassed and players are approached directly.”
Players unhappy with PCB decision
Meanwhile, Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez said the players will whole-heartedly accept the PCB’s decision on the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) but there are only a few who share his views.
“It’s not fair and there should have been some other solution,” a domestic cricketer told The Express Tribune. “If the decision was inevitable, the board must compensate the money that we will lose due to the forced withdrawal.”
Meanwhile, a senior PCB official said the board did not hold any discussion on compensating the cricketers.
“We haven’t discussed anything on providing compensation to the players yet and it will be premature to say anything on that.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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I understand Pakistani players lost huge amount of money and also Pakistani fans lost opportunity to watch their favorite stars playing with other international starts. Believe me BCB has done everything it could to organize bd tour of pak, But during the week of scheduled tour news of terrorist bombing started to come on tv.And bd cric fan went on to street to protest against the proposed tour. Look we do not want our players to get hurt. Why should we even take a chance ? its clear Pakistan's security condition is not well enough. Instead of blackmailing BCB, PCB could have waited for the security condition to be good. Bangladeshi fans were and still are against bds tour of pak. As PCB used politics there is no way Bangladesh team is visiting Pakistan in near future.. and to be honest I dont see security condition in Pakistan getting better anytime soon,
I believe PCB knows about the law and order situation in Pakistan very well.Ask any foreigner to tour Pakistan,chances are high that he or she will refuse.PCB, being a professional body should have reacted sensibly.By not sending their players to BPL,PCB hampered their earnings,shown their emotions over logic and lost any sympathy if there is any.
@James:yes you can earn a lot of money in the upcoming PSL BUT you can also get shot
We were hoping to watch players from Pakistan to make it more interesting tournament and it's a game not war. Such a novice decision, Anyway, there are many more players available from other countries to make it more exciting. Watch BPL and enjoy. Money isn't everything, it's the game that gonna make you happy.
@ Fahad Zia I wish I could recommend your comment for 10000 times.
Why to worry.....Super-rich PSL is going to start very soon.....they can earn a lot of money...
Better go and take Bangladeshi citizenship as Azhar Mahmood did with England...at least they have matches played regularly in their country......
Assalamalaikum, I think, PCB could have allowed the players, cause huge money involved specially for new promissing players-instead, cricket diplomacy is going on, PCB may deal with Bangladesh tour later on. Bangladesh is always ready to tour Pakistan, if the situation is stable- which is at present not at all. obaid, Dhaka.
Assalamalaikum. Well, i think, it should have dealt diffrenetly by both PCB and BCB. PCB should have allowed the players to come in BD and then they could have Bangladesh to be played in Pakistan. Its very simple. Bangladesh team will go to Pakistan provided is the situation is ok there. At present -it is not.Therefore, players will be losing money, which Zaka should have viewed differently- he does not have to think about money - he has it all. Hope cricket will be won instead of diplomacy.
PCB tried to bully Bangladesh in to touring Pakistan. Why dont you realize a simple thing that if your country is safe then foreigners will automatically come. If they come against their will and some mishap happens then there would be nobody to blame but PCB.
Why didnt PCB flex its muscles with India telling them that if they dont tour Pakistan then Pakistan would not come and play in India. Small guy always gets the raw end of the stick.
earn anywhere, except BD.. its the country with the least sportsmanship in the neighbourhood... Glad they are not with Pakistan anymore..
I don't think ET understands what "cash-strapped" means.
Is money every thing? Bangla Desh board has been a beacon of hypocrisy. I strongly support Mr. Zaka. Nations pride is much more important.
Irrational demand by PCB. I think players should be allowed to take part in any league if they are not on national duty. It's there right to earn money as they are professional. Hafeez may be happy as he is already earning big bucks. What about others who has to support there family and polish there skills with the help of these tournaments.
its injustice to players.i m a pakistani and i dont hesitate to say that pakistan security conditions r not good.y PCB didnt ask india to first send its team before pakistant team visit of india.now PCB must compensate players
I must say very unimaginitive and foolish leadership from Zaka. Why ask other countries when you already know the answer? it was a lose lose situation, there was no benefit had BD agreed to visit and as it turned out a big loss if they refuse. They could have easily let the relations go on cruise control for a while and take advantage of extra available time instead of playing useless matches against BD.
Please for God's sake consider us Pakistani's respect and stop begging to other countries for matches or visits, we are not ready to host anyone at this time. Work on your own professional league build it from humble basis, unlike BD we have enought talent and organizer to have a very good attractive league all on our own. Trust me people from outside will come when the time is right you have a good league infrastructure already inplace to welcome them.
Go players, go to BPL and play and earn your money. It is an easy league and it is short. The money is good too.
The way things are going in Pakistan, no international team is going to tour and PPL has little chance of reaching the numbers the board is projecting simply because of the packed calender.