IN view of the country’s financial woes and the recently announced budget, the spendthrift ways of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can hardly be defended, especially when one takes into account the team’s performance.

The PCB management and players earn substantial monthly salaries and bonuses. The chief selector earns Rs3.2 million, head coach Rs2 million, directors Rs1-1.5 million each, general managers up to Rs1 million each, and coaches Rs1-1.2 million each. The cricketers earn more than what someone could dream of earning even in a multinational company. Category A players earn Rs4.5 million, category B Rs3 million, category C Rs1.5 million, and category D Rs750,000 each. These figures exclude match fees, rewards and travel expenses. Additionally, the PCB is overburdened with significant adminis-trative costs that are not too dissimilar to the national airline.

Despite these hefty investments, the team’s performance has remained subpar, often outclassed by teams with minimal financial backing and professional training. The disillusionment is not just with the players, but with the entire system. The PCB is a significant financial burden on a nation that has been struggling to manage its frail economy.

Recent PCB audit reports reveal that the chairman’s annual expenses, excluding salaries and allowances, exceeded Rs40 million in 2021-22. The political wrangling over the appointment of the PCB head, which is always resolved only through personal intervention by political leaders, underscores the systemic issues within the organisation.

The state of Pakistan cricket is seriously troubling. It reflects broader issues of mismanagement, inefficiency and misplaced priorities. The nation bears the burden of an underperforming and expensive cricket infrastructure, while amateurs from other countries, driven by commitment, achieve more with less.

Gulab Umid
Turbat

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2024