Players not happy with PCB’s two-league condition

Board plans to restrict players participation in T20 leagues in order to save prized assets for the 2019 World Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s announcement of imposing restrictions on player’s participation in the T20 leagues did not go down well with the centrally contracted cricketers.

A few days ago, the PCB announced that it won’t allow players to participate in more than two T20 leagues in a calendar year to prevent them from injuries.

One of these leagues will be Pakistan Super League (PSL), which means the players will realistically be allowed to play in only one other league. This condition will be a part of the upcoming central contracts as well.

According to sources, not all players are happy with PCB’s decision and have made the authorities aware of their reservations.

This subject has also been the topic of discussions between captain Sarfraz Ahmed, chief selector Inzamamul Haq and Haroon Rasheed as well as some other board officials.

According to the board authorities, the national team has to play a lot of cricket before the next World Cup and therefore, players taking part in multiple leagues will increase the chances of a likely fitness problem.

However, the cricketers are of the view that only 15 to 20 players are selected for the national team, hence, this ban should not be applied on all centrally contracted players.

The board authorities have made it clear that all players who are not part of the national team but are under central contracts might get to play in a third league if they have played in four to five domestic matches.

PCB is keen to save its prized assets and therefore, players like fast bowlers Hassan Ali and Muhammad Amir are not likely to participate in more than two leagues at any cost.

According to sources, the board has not included English county in this category and it means the players can play there. Similarly the T10 League will be open to players as well since the PCB itself is supporting it. However, the two-league condition does not apply on team and board officials.

The PCB also clarified this to players that due to the 2019 World Cup, the participation of players in leagues is being limited and once the tournament is over, this condition is likely to be removed.

The international federation of players — FICA — has objected any board’s initiative to restrict players to limited T20 league participation and termed it as an attempt to deprive players of their business.

The players are likely to get 20 to 25% increment in their salaries in the new contract and it will be applied from the recently concluded Zimbabwe tour.

The number of players in contract has been increased to 31 with the arrival of new E category, where top domestic performers — Saad Ali, Mir Hamza, Umaid Asif, Shaheen Shah Afridi and others — will be included.