Shafiq trumps Sarfraz, Misbah in annual remunerations

Right-handed batsman’s average per-annum income revealed to be Rs28m

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's right-hand batsman Asad Shafiq raked in more cash in the past four years than even the likes of former Test captain Misbahul Haq and current skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, according to a written reply sent to the Senate by Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada.

In the letter sent to the Senate, Riaz claims that Shafiq has taken home nearly Rs111.9 million as match fee during last four years — or approximately Rs28 million per annum.

Shafiq was followed by Muhammad Hafeez (Rs24.3 million), Misbah (Rs17.8 million), Sarfraz (Rs17.3 million), and Azhar Ali (Rs16.1 million) — the average per-annum pay they received in the last four years.

He further informed that 71 Pakistani cricketers— who represented the country in a combined total of 205 Tests, ODIs, and T20Is matches during the last five years — had collectively been paid Rs1.45 billion.

Meanwhile, during the last year (July 2016 to June 2017), Pakistan Cricket Board paid a sum of Rs353.9 million as match fee to nearly 43 cricketers it signed to play to represent the country in different formats.

Last year’s highest earner was Sarfraz, who received Rs29.6 million. He is followed by Azhar (Rs26.5 million), Babar Azam (Rs21.76 million), Yasir Shah (Rs21.84 million) and Mohammad Amir (Rs20.8 million). The lowest-paid player during last year was Amad Butt who received only Rs82,500.

The information was forwarded to the Senate after a recent ESPNcricinfo feature on how much players from all cricket-playing countries earn, and it revealed the jarring statistic that Pakistan’s top-tier contract ($74,014) pays less than that of Ireland’s ($75,000).