August 19, 2006	Saturday	Rajab 23, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The government has announced special bonuses for the players of national cricket team for their outstanding performance in the coming quests in the 2006-07 season including, ICC Champions Trophy and the World Cup.

Replying to a question raised by Yasmeen Rehman MNA, Minister for Sports Mian Shamim Haider said bonuses would additional to the match fees to be paid to the players.

The bonuses have been offered for the current cricket series with England and for other tours in Scotland, West Indies, South Africa, India (for ICC Champions Trophy) and the World Cup in West Indies in 2007.

The National Assembly was informed that in case of winning One-day International and Test series each player would get bonus of Rs200,000 and for being victorious in both and Test series they would receive additional bonus of Rs100,000 each.

For reaching the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy, each player of the national squad would receive a bonus of Rs100,000 each.

In case they reach in the final, the amount of bonus would be Rs200,000 for each player and for clinching the trophy, the amount of bonus would be Rs500,000 each.

Similarly, bonus for reaching the semi-finals in the World Cup would be Rs200,000 for each player and in case of reaching the final they would get Rs500,000.

The amount for holing the World Cup would be decided later, the lower house was informed.

Responding to a question about increment in the players' match fee, the minister disclosed that players would get 25 per cent increment in their match fees during 2006 and 2007.

Answering to a separate question made by MNA Fauzia Wahab about National Cricket Academy, the minister for sports said the academy was established in 2003 and it has spent about Rs20 million for promotion of cricket during last financial year 2005-06.

The minister said the government had undertaken Rs251 million development programme for creation of sports infrastructure in the country. The amount would be utilised in 25 different schemes.

Out of a total of Rs251 million, Rs33.561 million would be spent in Islamabad, Rs56.397 million in Punjab, Rs42.031 million in Sindh, an amount of Rs42.031 million would be utilised in North West Frontier Province, Balochistan would get Rs20 million, Rs33.234 million would be spent in Northern Areas and a sum of Rs20 million would be utilised in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.