PCB discards daily allowances for women cricketers in national camp

The timing of allowance cuts raises concerns with PCB's large expenditures on cricket projects.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that it will no longer provide daily allowances to women cricketers attending national training camps, a move that has disappointed the players.

This decision affects the women’s team, which is currently training in Multan in preparation for their upcoming home series against South Africa.

A PCB official defended the decision: "The players are not being given daily allowances because the board is now providing them accommodation and three full meals during the day.” In contrast, Pakistan’s men’s team is offered the choice of two full meals per day, accommodation, and a daily allowance.

The timing of this policy shift is under scrutiny, particularly given the PCB’s significant investments in other areas. The board reportedly spends Rs 5 million monthly on mentors for the ongoing Champions Cup in Faisalabad and Rs 12.8 billion on renovations for three Test venues ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

A former Pakistan cricketer expressed concern over the board’s decision, noting, “What difference of a few lakh rupees will make to the board is anybody’s guess, but it has the potential to create discontent in women’s cricket.”

Furthermore, the women players are still awaiting their central contracts for the current fiscal year, which have been delayed by over a month. Last year, 19 players received contracts, but this year’s announcement is still pending.

Despite the current decision, the PCB official confirmed that women cricketers will resume receiving daily allowances once the series against South Africa begins on September 17. This series is viewed as part of their preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE next month.