Players complain over delay in salaries

Ashraf’s suspension as PCB chief reason behind hold-up.

KARACHI: First-class players have lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), complaining over non-payment of their regional contract salaries for the last sixth months and instead wasting millions on the proposed Pakistan Super League (PSL), a project that still seems far away from fruition.

While salaries of PCB officials have been released on time, more than 200 regional team players have been kept waiting for their salaries that were due to be paid at the end of April.

With nearly two months over, players have now started complaining in full volume against the PCB, stating that they are facing financial problems.

“Cricket is our bread and butter and the situation is extremely frustrating,” a Karachi Blues player told The Express Tribune. “The officials are drawing hefty salaries but the board isn’t paying players who earn Rs10,000-Rs20,000 per month. The PCB, for no reason, invested heavily in the PSL knowing it won’t materialise. They should have increased domestic match-fee, daily allowance and made the domestic T20 tournament stronger.”



Meanwhile, Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) chief Khwaja Nadeem also hit out at the board for not paying the players on time.

The official said the players have requested him to sort out the issue and he visited PCB headquarters to register their complaints.

“This is a serious issue because lives of so many families depend on the earning of these players,” said Nadeem. “I’ve spoken to a senior official who said that Zaka Ashraf [now suspended PCB chairman] didn’t order the release of payments when he was in charge.”

Documents sent for approval to chairman

When concerned officials of the PCB were contacted, they said that the necessary documentation was completed in time and sent to Ashraf.

“We didn’t release salaries because Ashraf was yet to give permission and then he was suspended by the court,” said a PCB official. “So once the matter of the PCB chairman is resolved, we’ll release the payment.

“We also understand the problems players are facing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2013.

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