LAHORE: Former Test cricketer and selector Shafqat Rana has decided to close down his well-known Shafqat Rana Club in protest against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) policy of collecting millions of rupees through registration of clubs and holding elections of their office-bearers across the country, under its new constitution implemented on Aug 19, 2019.

Talking to Dawn on Thursday, Shafqat said: ”To meet this expense demanded by the PCB, either I have to pay from my own pocket or charge the players which I am not ready to do in any way and have decided to close down the club in protest.

“It is a totally unfair policy as the clubs already lack resources,” he added.

“For years, clubs across the country have been real nurseries of national cricketers but it is unfortunate that instead of helping them out and boosting them, the PCB has decided to earn money from them,” lamented Shahfqat who is a highly respected figure in national cricket circles.

“It is highly deplorable that there is not a single clause in PCB’s model constitution supporting club cricket, but yes, every clause is included in it how to control the club’s affairs and how to earn money from them,” added Shafqat who played five Test matches for Pakistan from 1964 to 1969 as right-handed batsman.

He looked dejected and said that to meet PCB’s unfair charges, a majority of the club owners in the country would now have to increase the players’ monthly fees which will ultimately affect the cricketers and will discourage them.

Bahawalpur’s Tariq Sarwar lashes out at Board’s policy of greed against clubs

Shafqat, who served as member of the national selection committee under Salahuddin “Sallu” during Dr. Nasim Ashraf’s tenure, is a senior member of the Rana cricketing family that also includes Sultan Rana, Azmat Rana, Mansoor Rana and famous Test umpire Shakoor Rana.

To a question, he agreed that instead of imposing such a fee, the PCB should pay back handsomely to the clubs for producing cricketers for the national team and must support them in every way to keep up the good work.

He pointed out that his club had produced fine players like Abid Ali, Jehangir Mirza and few others who represented Pakistan in the past.

Shafqat suggested the PCB to come out with a friendly policy for clubs instead of trying to control them in an unjust manner.

Meanwhile, Tariq Sarwar, a club organiser and office-bearer of the defunct Bahawalpur region cricket association, also critisised the PCB policy towards club cricket. Tariq also shared the details of the financial burden which will be borne by clubs if the PCB goes on to implement its latest policy.

Tariq said the PCB had not only made a plan to earn money from the clubs but it was also putting all the expenditure of running a club on its owner and was providing nothng in return.

The PCB has divided the clubs into three categories including Full Members, Associate Members and Affiliated Members. Tariq said according to an estimate, if the PCB registers around 3,000 clubs across the country with 1,000 falling in each category, the expenditure of these clubs will run into millions annually which will eventually hit their existence.

Tariq shared the following details of expenditure with Dawn:

Full Members: The clubs falling in this category will pay Rs5,000 (registration fee) + Rs15,000 (for 3 voting members @Rs5,000 each), Rs5,000 (annual registration fee), annual registration of players @ Rs4,500 (18 players @Rs250 per player), Rs10,000 (Rs5,000 for each contesting candidate for President/Treasurer offices), making it a total sum of Rs39,500. Besides, these clubs have to maintain their own grounds, so at least Rs100,000 is required per month to meet their expenses.

Associate Clubs: Clubs in this category are to pay Rs5,000 (registration fee) + Rs50,000 (for 10 voting members @Rs5,000 each), Rs7,500 (annual registration fee), annual registration of players @ Rs4,500 (18 players @Rs250 per player), Rs10,000 (Rs5,000 for each contesting candidate for President/Treasurer( offices), making it a total sum of Rs77,000. They also have to run one office and maintain at least three pitches from their own resources.

Affiliated Clubs: In this category, the clubs will have to pay a total amount of Rs114,500 with the break-up of: Rs5,000 (registration fee) + Rs75,000 (for 15 voting members @Rs5,000 each), Rs20,000 (annual registration fee), annual registration of players Rs4,500 (18 players @Rs250 per player), Rs10,000 (Rs5,000 for each contesting candidate for President/Treasurer offices).

According to a rough estimate if 3,000 clubs are forced to register with the PCB, the Board will pocket Rs3.9 crores from affiliated clubs, Rs7.7 crores from associated ones and Rs11.45 crores from full members, making it a grand total of Rs 23.5 crores.

In addition, maintenance of grounds and salaries to ground staff, gym, office, utility bills, petrol diesel, repair of equipment, payment to coach plus entry fee for tournaments and daily net practice for full members come to a minimum of Rs2-3 lacs per months,

Tariq added that as a rough estimate based on the above facts and figures, an Associate Member will needs at least Rs 100,000, the Affiliated member Rs60,000 and Full member Rs300,000 each, bringing the grand total of all expenses made by the clubs in one year to Rs5.63 billion.

He noted that while the ICC allocates huge funds to the PCB annually, to be spent on domestic cricket, in which the basic set up was of club cricket. But instead of spending on the club cricket the PCB had made the plan to deprive them and victimise them.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2021