July 11, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 25, 1428

LAHORE, July 10: Almost all the players of the ongoing ‘Future Players Training Camp’ currently in progress at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) have expressed disappointment over the callous approach of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which, they say, has failed to address their financial problems owing to this ill-planned programme.

The PCB had set up the camp with 27 probables on June 4. Many players joined the camp at the cost of some lucrative contracts in English counties and leagues which would have earned them a handsome amount of money ranging between Rs 0.8 to Rs 1 million for one full season.

But despite the fact that the players attending the camp are professionals, the PCB has not yet set any daily allowance or monthly stipend for them which is now beginning to irritate a number of players. “I joined here after foregoing a contract worth Rs one million. But I did not sacrifice the huge amount only to slog here for three months without any incentive,” a right-handed batsman said on the condition of anonymity.

Another dejected player said the PCB and the NCA officials were drawing big salaries themselves only to prepare such absurd programmes which gave them publicity but nothing to the players who are the real force of the game.

“Before attending this camp I also attended a 20-day camp for which former fast bowler Wasim Akram was invited to train the players. But I was not paid a single penny for that camp and now this camp is also proving to be a prison for me since I have nothing in my pocket,” another budding cricketer opined.

“We have been complaining for a good financial package to compensate our losses but the PCB officials have only made promises of paying a meager amount of Rs 5,000 per month for each player,” a probable said in a tone dripping with sarcasm.