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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to offer $10,000 per match to each foreign cricketer who would play Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in the country, sources told DawnNews.
The incentive is aimed at attracting foreign players to play PSL matches being held in the country. This amount would be payed separately from all other payments.
In this regard, the PCB would add an extra clause in the contracts of foreign players. "$10,000 per match is not a bad option for foreign players because the PCB is planning to host at least 6 to 8 PSL matches in Pakistan for the 3rd Pakistan Super League. So if a player even plays only three matches in Pakistan, he will get straight $30,000," said a source privy to the development.
Pakistan has not hosted top-level international cricket — barring five limited over matches against minnows Zimbabwe in 2015 — since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists in March 2009. Last month, in a first since the attack, Pakistan successfully hosted the World XI squad comprising foreign players in the Independence Cup 2017.
Since the 2009 attack Pakistan have been forced to play most of their “home” games in the United Arab Emirates — with the Pakistan Cricket Board complaining they have incurred losses of around $120 million.
But security has dramatically improved across Pakistan in the last two years, signalling hopes for the slow revival of international sport in the country.
Sri Lanka Cricket officials have said that the team will play one T20 in Lahore, subject to security clearance closer to the event.
In March, Pakistan successfully hosted the Pakistan Super League Twenty20 final in Lahore with English players Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan, West Indies' Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels and South Africa's Morne van Wyk and Zimbabwe's Sean Ervine competing.
Comments (37) Closed
Good decision
That sure is a lot of money !!!
Love you cricket
Total waste of money, instead the money should be invested in grass roots, people who come for money never remain sincere.
There are lot many other things in life apart from cricket
what is source of this money?
Very low amount
Thats equally pathetic and embarrassing
How about giving that away to the poor?
Poor abound all around and they have audacity to spend so much scarce 'foreign' currency. Granted they will earn some too, still it is undue wastage. Rather spend these monies to create the peaceful environment. Real challenge is taming the rebellious politicians b/c it sends a stark message abroad: if high echelons of government are so lawless against the SC, how can they be effective in controlling the rest. Wrong priorities cannot solve real problems. It only raises the stakes even higher.
Can’t we use this money on poor???
PCB is actually quite well off financially even with no cricket at home and no series against India. Made profits from PSL and with Multan Sultan sold for 5.2m$ per season, profits will only increase. PSL has given us players like Shadab, Hassan Ali and Fakhar who are very good lads.
@Aslam Qadri It's not about sincerity - its about putting a impressive show!
It is not about wastage of money, it's a business decision i am sure this decision is backed by a viable business model in which PCB must be able to earn as well
What else can PCB do to attract foreign cricketers to play in the home matches of the upcoming Pakistan Super League T/20 tournament since in the capitalist and capitalistic societies of the world we all live in today, money walks, money talks, money rocks and sometimes stalks?
Absolutely ridiculous, there should be no incentive for players to come, is presidential level security not enough? Recently, in the Afghan shapageeza league which was held in Afghanistan there were a lot of foreign players who participated and they were not given any incentives. PCB should set playing in Pakistan as a precondition for playing PSL, and players will surely come, or else foreign players will always look for incentives to play in Pakistan despite being given presidential level security. This cricket board has no vision, and it is incompetent in every area ranging from infrastructure, decision making and selection (where is Fawad, Sadaf among the many players who have been treated unfairly due to unmerited selection).
Don't wanna comment on internal matter of PCB. But we surely miss Pakistani players a lot here. Whatever steps your board is taking, support it. I feel their intentions are good
Instead spend this money on strengthining security and eradicating terrorism from the grass root level.....Cricket will eventually follow.....
But this will increase the bargaining power of players... They will refuse to come to Pakistan till the time payed heavily.. PCB must review this policy.
@Zahid BD it's speculative source. Pcb will sue bcci and if they win they will pay to players.
Is $10,000 per match rate for Lahore or Karachi?
No need for such payment when Pakistan is already safe. Its better that those players should play who are willing to play in Pakistan. All the matches should be held in Pakistan. Its Pakistan League, not Dubai League. Security situation has considerably improved. PCB needs to makes its lobby strong and its strategy rather than enticing with money. Holding PSL in Pakistan will generate more revenue than holding in Dubai. PCB needs fresh blood rather than letting it be at mercy of oldies with no knowledge.
If they increase the amount to $ 20,000 per match then even I am willing to travel to Pakistan to play in PSL. :-)
Seems like PCB is indeed a very rich board, because if you keep paying so much money to foreign player to play in Pakistan, and I am talking about not just PSL matches but the other prospective future matches that would be held in Pakistan, just like it has been reported in news that WI team will visit Pakistan and Sri Lankan would play a t20 later this month. So if foreign players become addicted to be paid extra whenever they visit Pakistan, then PCB must be able to afford such exorbitant sums. It is most disappointing to see empty stadiums in UAE now, even regional cricket matches in Pakistan get more crowd than in UAE stadiums. So it would be appreciated if PCB devises some method to convince international teams to visit Pakistan once again, not immediately, but gradually
It is a smart move. With money in sight, the managers of these players may not have to deter them from coming to Pakistan. If 6-8 matches go well this time, they may not have to pay next, or next to next time. Sethi is pragmatist.
Spend this money on stadiums and make local tourments attractive. Local cricket in Australian England even IPL will be successful without any foreign players.
Better to invest in other sports. Any how PCB alive on other’ soil. But, lot of other sports are dying on Pakistan soil
That's too much money on the top of normal contract.
Is that the going rate for a cricker’s life? How about sponsoring air travel to Dubai for Pakistan fans instead?
For you it's a big money but for us it is not..
Where is that money coming from? Tax payers or the owners of the team. If latter, then OK. If earlier, then shame on PCB!
This shows lack of confidence in security situation. It's better to build up slow and sure for few years. Especially the game should come out of Lahore.
@Tejas Patel please speak for yourself...
International cricket needs to be restored in Pakistan ASAP. The security assurances have to be made on the highest levels and it should be a priority for both the government and security apperetice.
Well it's like certifing your self that Pakistan is not safe to play cricket and for taking that risk to play there is reward of $10000.
Not a great strategy to sell your cricket to world.
So, if some international player is willing to play 6 matches in Pakistan but remains as the 12th man (or, even warms the bench as the 13th man), will he still get 60K USD for those 6 matches? Not a bad deal!
Per match for each player = 10,000$ 4 overseas players in each side = 4 X 2 X 10,000 = 80,000$ at least 6 PSL matches = 6 X 80,000$ = 480,000$ 480,000$ X 105 = 50,400,000 PKR OR 8 PSL matches = 8 X 80,0000$ = 640,000$ 640,000$ X 105 = 67,200,000 PKR
P.S.
PCB is spending around 5.04 to 6.72 Crores only on Foreign Players, what about local players ? PCB should spend more money on Local Players instead of International... if they do that then International player will automatically fall for PSL !