Pak Sports Ministry asks PCB for review of players' contracts

Karachi:

Pakistan's Sports Ministry has asked the PCB to review the central contracts they have awarded to cricketers as it feels some players are drawing unfair financial benefits through the contracts.

According to the details available, the Sports Ministry has notified the Pakistan Cricket Board in writing that it had reservations over the way the board was spending money on cricketers.

"The biggest objection raised by the ministry is that many players who have been given central contracts are also employed in senior and lucrative positions with other banks and organizations which is against Pakistan service rules," one source in the ministry said.

He said that under service rules a person could not have two employment contracts with different organisations. The source said the ministry was also not satisfied that the board was paying its players monthly salaries besides match and tour fees and other special bonuses.

The PCB has awarded its central contracts in three categories to around 25 players with those in the A category getting a monthly salary of rupees 250,000, those in B category Rs 175,000 and those in C category Rs 100,000 regardless of whether they are playing or not.

The board also gives retainers of Rs 75,000 to players who have performed well in domestic cricket and are on the reserves list of the selection committee.

The source said the ministry had noted that many players like Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul-Haq were not picked in the Pakistan team but were drawing their monthly salaries from the board and also working for their organizations and getting paid by them as well.

"They are officials in the ministry who feel that the board needs to revise its policy on dealings with the players and to stop wasting money," another source said.

The board is due to announce new contracts by the end of next month.