Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
Pakistani cricket players will reportedly boycott sponsorship logos and World Cup promotions due to an alleged delay in payment of match fees by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
According to a report by Cricket Pakistan, the national cricket team has not received their match fees for the past four months, causing significant discontent among the players
The PCB's efforts to finalise central contracts for players have not yielded positive results, raising concerns ahead of the ICC World Cup scheduled to commence on October 5 in India
As the World Cup approaches, players are refusing to display corporate logos on their shirts, expressing financial struggles, especially among younger players, due to the delayed payments
Initially, the PCB had proposed an attractive monthly retainer fee of PKR 4.5 million for top cricketers across all formats (Test, One Day International, and T20) to incentivise performance. However, players are now demanding an increase in payments after tax deductions reduced the offer to around PKR 2.2 to 2.3 million
Players are requesting a share of the PCB's revenue, which reportedly amounts to 9.8 billion rupees from various financial sources. Their argument is grounded in the revenue-sharing model that PCB has with the ICC, sponsors, Pakistan Super League (PSL) contracts, and bilateral series. They assert that their contributions to the sport's financial success entitles them to a significant portion of the generated revenue
The PCB's financial allocation to players falls short by one billion rupees, which represents 10% less than what the board receives from its revenue-sharing agreements with the ICC. Players argue that their agents have influenced the arrangements
The ongoing payment disputes cast a shadow of uncertainty over Pakistan's participation in the World Cup and the team's overall morale
As the standoff continues, it remains to be seen whether the PCB and the players can reach a resolution before the tournament commences, ensuring the smooth participation of Pakistan in the ICC World Cup. Pakistan has not even revealed its squad for the upcoming World Cup. Their opening match is scheduled against the Netherlands on October 6