LAHORE: For the first time in more than three years, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced an increase of Rs100,000 in the pension for former Test cricketers aged 60 or above.

The raise, which will come into effect from July 1, will be applied across all three pension categories under the PCB Players’ Welfare Policy According to a PCB statement, players who’ve played 10 or less, between 11 and 20 and 21 or more Test matches will be paid monthly compensations of Rs142,000, Rs148,000 and Rs154,000 respectively.

The pensions of late cricketers will be transferred to their widows. Previously, the legal heirs of the players were only untitled to a single payment equal to the 12 months’ benefit according to their relevant bracket.

The PCB also confirmed there will be annual inflation increase in the pension amounts.

The decision was hailed by some former players including Salahuddin Ahmad Sallu, Mohammad Ilyas, Iqbal Qasim and Salim Altaf. Reportedly, a number of ex-cricketers are facing financial hardship as the country’s economic conditions worsen.

“With a former cricketer at the helm of Pakistan cricket affairs, the expectation was that I will always protect and look after the interests and welfare of all present and past cricketers,” said PCB chairman Ramiz Raja.

“I am confident this incremental increase of the pension policy will give a lot of peace and satisfaction to the cricketers as well as their families.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2022