PM announces Rs10m for each Champion Trophy team player

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced on Tuesday a reward of Rs10 million each for every player of the national cricket team for winning the Champions Trophy after defeating archrival India in London’s Oval cricket ground.

According to Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, the prime minister announced the reward for the national team for winning the Champions Trophy. She said by showing brilliant performance in the tournament, the national team had lifted the spirits of the nation. She added Pakistani team outclassed their opponents in all departments – batting, fielding and bowling.

“For showing an outstanding performance, the team deserves appreciation,” she said and added that the reward would be helpful in uplifting sports in the country.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2017

championstrophy2017

Pakistan

Kashif Ali Abbasi is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with 17 years of experience in journalism. He covers sports, the education sector, and civic issues. He can be found on X at @AbbasiKashif833.

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Ahmed Noman

Jun 21, 2017 09:41am

That's a good thing done by PM. Appreciated.

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Ghaznavimultan

Jun 21, 2017 09:45am

Peanuts for the work done. Must be 20 times more at least

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Hashim

Jun 21, 2017 09:48am

Its amazing how the government can find the money to reward people, but cannot find the money to complete critical projects for public welfare.

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Hafeejul Alam

Jun 21, 2017 09:50am

PM's gesture is timely and highly encouraging for the players

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Asim

Jun 21, 2017 09:55am

I am wandering that is this prize of 10m each given by PM out of his own pocket?

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M Mirza

Jun 21, 2017 09:55am

Not from his own pocket.

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Tamza

Jun 21, 2017 09:57am

Which budget line item and on what authority is this money from? If it were from the slush fund of the PM - fine. Yes the players should be recognized. Yes they should be rewarded. Yes it is team effort so all should be treated well. But for such rewards there should be private funds. In any case these awards are to be taxed. For some of the players such amounts are so yuge they could transform lives.

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Someone

Jun 21, 2017 09:58am

Pakistan's FX reserves are going down, Govt has been borrowing at ever high rates, can't fulfill it's current debt, balance of payment is in red, and they think paying the national team will help their image. WOW!

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saeeds

Jun 21, 2017 09:59am

Is it coming from his pocket. Like religion sports should be separate from state business .

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georj

Jun 21, 2017 10:01am

Is NS paying from his own money or the poor tax payers will be paying. He needs to clarify

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PAK-OZ

Jun 21, 2017 10:01am

so this money will be paid from PM personal account or panamagate account or just tax payers money??

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Sajjad

Jun 21, 2017 10:02am

Will the government charge the WHT on banking transaction and would the banks ask for source of wealth/fund as the amount in PKR 10M. Well done Team Pakistan, you guys made us happy and proud

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fawad

Jun 21, 2017 10:02am

is that from his personal account or is that tax payers' money going to these cricketers? What a way to ruin cricket and creating rift between players who weren't part of the squad.

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JKhan

Jun 21, 2017 10:08am

Please let me know when they receive this money.

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akram

Jun 21, 2017 10:11am

is it right to give tax payers money like this? Don't get me wrong we should all appreciate what the team achieved, I just think when millions of children don't have access to schools, state money should not be used in this manner when there are other priorities.

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Faisal

Jun 21, 2017 10:18am

I wish it was announced only for those players who actually performed in the tournament. Players like Ahmed Shehzad and Imad Wasim don't deserve a single penny.

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SALMAN ALI

Jun 21, 2017 10:29am

Would have been better if this money was spent on Pakistan's National Sport, Hockey. Pakistan's performance in recent Qualifies is; 0-4 vs Holland, 0-6 vs Canada, 1-7 vs India and 3-1 vs Scotland. Next match vs Argentina in Quarterfinals.

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Ali

Jun 21, 2017 10:31am

1 crore each, not bad. Ahmed Shehzad & Wahab Riaz also?

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jawaid

Jun 21, 2017 10:35am

The PM should have given these amounts from his own pocket rather than burdening the national exchequer. We are a poor country and could have utilized such huge amounts for productive purpose. It is painful to see him take such a decision showing no financial discipline.

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Zeeshan

Jun 21, 2017 10:37am

What a great news. The financial strengthening of the players will definitely uplift their sporting ambitions.

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anees zed

Jun 21, 2017 10:40am

Great !! Our PM is so good - at making announcements !!

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Zeeshan

Jun 21, 2017 10:41am

This is indeed a fact that the "team had lifted the spirits of the nation". Justifiably deserve huge appreciation.

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Zeeshan

Jun 21, 2017 10:42am

Thank you PM.

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Waseem

Jun 21, 2017 10:44am

Good to appreciate the hardwork of team Pakistan... Will someone clarify gift amount will be given from PM personal account or from Tax paid money by people of Pakistan????

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Pakistani

Jun 21, 2017 10:58am

oh my badness this huge heavy trundle amount of Money to millionare playerss.... Ah no words. It should not be more than 10 Lakh to Each player except Ahmed Shehzad and Wahab Riaz...

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JAAHIL INSAAN

Jun 21, 2017 11:16am

It is the team's responsibility to perform and perform well under all circumstances. This is what they are paid for under their contracts. Then why this hefty amount in reward and that too from the national exchequer ? PM should pay this amount from his own pocket.

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Shaikh

Jun 21, 2017 11:22am

From tax payers money? is it justified when millions are living a miserable life in country without basic necessities?

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Arz Muhammad (Shikarpur) Sindh

Jun 21, 2017 11:34am

Well done Pakistani Team

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Arz Muhammad (Shikarpur) Sindh

Jun 21, 2017 11:35am

Pakistani well done team

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B man

Jun 21, 2017 11:47am

It is not the states job to pay cricket team. The PCB and sponsors should do this. That money could help so many people.

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Neighbour

Jun 21, 2017 12:03pm

that should encourage new comers that money can be made through hard work and honesty as well.

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cricket lover

Jun 21, 2017 12:10pm

Well done Pakistan team. Wish he could offer these incentives to all hard working people including a fraction to our national hockey team.

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Mahmood

Jun 21, 2017 12:14pm

Only if NS is paying out of the billions he has stashed overseas.

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Asad

Jun 21, 2017 12:16pm

Instead of these random grants just give donation to make proper facilities and grounds for the futur generation to compete with the world

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Ali

Jun 21, 2017 12:19pm

Nice gesture Mr. PM but Rs 1 crore each seems quite hefty for a country that has substantial amount of debt! It would have been nice if you used your own billions as opposed to the tax payer money to gift-out cash.

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Sara

Jun 21, 2017 12:24pm

PMLN Vote buying as usual. That money could be better spent on basic services like maternity care. Newborns are dying because there are such poor emergency medical services in government hospitals

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john

Jun 21, 2017 12:37pm

Nawaz should instead have hosted a dinner for the pakistani team, this generosity means he wants to cash in on the upbeat mood of the pakistanis, which would help in his electoral politics. As an Indian i know the amount of money and time wasted on cricketers. The capital could have been used wisely by building academies and nurturing other sports.

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Khanzada

Jun 21, 2017 12:38pm

He missed the other part of the announcement that he will be paying this reward from his own pocket..

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Hassan

Jun 21, 2017 12:42pm

totally wrong decision. Its public money.not nawaz sharif private money. He should give rewards from own pocket

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A. A.

Jun 21, 2017 12:43pm

From tax payers money, or from his own pocket?

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KASHIF

Jun 21, 2017 12:47pm

As a taxpayer, I don't appreciate my money being wasted on frivolous rewards for players who were just doing their job. They will already be getting prize money and advertisement offers, as well as likely bonuses from PCB. There is no need for extra rewards. This 11 crore+ sum could be better spent elsewhere.

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Sameer

Jun 21, 2017 12:49pm

Is the PM paying them from his pocket or from mine? promoting discord by giving benefits to state depts and selected few and taxing the people. Imagine this 120million could've gone to a hospital or a school system, water supply.

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Pakistani1

Jun 21, 2017 01:03pm

We are all proud of the performance of the cricket team and wish them continued success. If the PM is giving this money from his own pocket , we are grateful to him. However if he is giving this money from the national Treasury then he should stop being generous using other peoples money. He should focus on improving the budgetary situation of the country and not aggravating it.

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mandy

Jun 21, 2017 01:10pm

What about millions of Pakistanis who live below poverty line, what is the govt. doing for the upliftment of under privileged

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Bilal

Jun 21, 2017 01:51pm

10,00000 each which is 1 Crore, that's a lot for a poor country like Pakistan. You could have spent 80% of that total money to build a stadium or cricket academy. Wrong priorities and no regard of tax payer's hard earned money.

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Shahid

Jun 21, 2017 02:09pm

If there is no penalty for not winning, then there should be no reward besides bettering contracts of layers. If any bonus, it should only come from the PCB. Private business owners can and should recognise individual players or team as a whole per their own choice. Such unnecessary burden on the national treasury for a heavily debt burdened and financially poor nation is nothing more than personal glory for PR purposes and is clearly out of place extravagance.

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Sabir

Jun 21, 2017 02:09pm

They're already being well-paid, need to spend on Health, Education and Welfare for masses of the nation.

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Muneeb Aijaz

Jun 21, 2017 02:10pm

Is this reward is from Nawaz sharif's personal account or is he going to distribute this amount from our taxes? They hardly have money to complete on going projects...

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Texan

Jun 21, 2017 02:26pm

How much marketing money would Pakistan have to spend to create a better image? How much money would people spend to feel good via movies or other entertainment if they received 5 days entertainment? How much revenue was generated by PCB, TV Ads, and boost in other businesses due to their success? These players need to be paid based on their market value so they don't go out and try to take short cuts. If you want them to be best in the world then they need to be paid handsomely for their performance like other world players. I think this money is punnets compared to what they gave back to the nation.

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Ghalib Ghalib

Jun 21, 2017 02:41pm

This is a big problem for Pakistan. You want to reward a team for doing a job they should be doing in the first place. Yes, reward but who is rewarding the citizens of Pakistan who work their back-off feeding their families or work so hard their work is never recognised just because they are not in the media limelight? The cricketers definitely deserve praise but not at the expense of showering with money. Pakistan is a poor country and you need to tackle problem correctly - not by short-term populism. This gesture kind of lacks class. To be honest very typical of Pakistan over the last 50 years.

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Parvez

Jun 21, 2017 03:03pm

The team deserves respect and honor..... its a shame that money and respect are joined for many in Pakistan.

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Syed Ahmed

Jun 21, 2017 03:19pm

Good. But don't expect them to be either on your side in the Panama Case or vote for you.

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Hasnain Haque

Jun 21, 2017 03:20pm

What nonsense is this, why is Pm giving away public money like this. I was delighted at Pakistan victory but this rewarding from public funds should stop immediately. Cricketers will make lot of money from this money, they dont need to be rewarded from public purse.

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Jameel wani(IHK)

Jun 21, 2017 03:21pm

Yes they deserve for this appreciation

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Hasnain Haque

Jun 21, 2017 03:21pm

This is nonsense, this is not Pm's money, it is public money and should be spent on the needy, cricketers are not needy or poor. Why doesn't PCB give them money or better still NS should reward them from his own funds.

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Hasnain Haque

Jun 21, 2017 03:21pm

Did the Pm consult anyone before giving away public money?.

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Hasnain Haque

Jun 21, 2017 03:22pm

@Ahmed Noman Why is it good, it is not his money, it is public money and it should be spent on the needy not on already rich cricketers.

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Sameer

Jun 21, 2017 03:29pm

Buying off the team that did push ups with Misbah. Appreciation is not showering someone in money or gold...its honor and respect...awarding them with medals, acknowledging their feats...not buying them off.

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Sarai alamgir

Jun 21, 2017 03:36pm

@Faisal Maybe you watched a different team, Imads bowling was a huge factor, Jury is out on Shahzad, maybe he gets 50%.

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Arif Kaderbhoy

Jun 21, 2017 03:38pm

Can anyone tell me how this will be uplifting for sports in Pakistan?

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Jun 21, 2017 08:17pm

Players must be rewarded but this is insane . These players have good contracts, they did a great job, but a token reward should have been enough. The money needs to be spent at the grass root level for all sports including neglected sports like hockey, football and volley ball. Are the millions coming out of the trillions of PM's personal wealth?

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Aamir Latif

Jun 21, 2017 10:06pm

Excellent reward for the team by GoP. It was a wivderful resurgence of Pakistani team, reminded 1992 world cup.

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Aamir Latif

Jun 21, 2017 10:09pm

Many in this forum critical akways, GoP rewards then it is criticized if not done, then also they will criticize. Team deserve appreciation and great reward after 25- years of winning major cricket ??

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Nazakat sandhu

Jun 21, 2017 11:13pm

Great pm Great work

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Abdulla Hussain

Jun 21, 2017 11:39pm

The coaching staff including the team support staff should also be included in the perks offered to the players.

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Tayyab Hassan

Jun 23, 2017 04:33pm

What about hockey? Any funds allocated for its promotion? because last time I checked Pakistan lost 4 out of 5 matches in the World Hockey League.

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