Pakistan Cricket Faces Another Setback Amid PCB’s Financial Struggle
March 14, 2025: 🔹 Key Highlights:
- All 50 Pakistan players (45 men & 5 women) went unsold in The Hundred draft.
- Star names like Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Imad Wasim found no buyers.
- PCB announces drastic cost-cutting measures, slashing domestic match fees from ₹100,000 to ₹10,000 per match.
- Outstanding payments from last season remain unpaid for players and umpires.
- Domestic players now receive cheaper accommodations, reduced air travel, and fewer facilities.
Also Read: The Hundred: Cricket’s Fastest-Growing League and Its Potential Buyers
📌 The Hundred Draft Snub: A Major Blow to Pakistan Cricket
✅ Despite having big names in the draft, not a single Pakistani player was picked for The Hundred, a major franchise cricket league in England.
✅ Naseem Shah, one of the most exciting young fast bowlers, was the highest-priced Pakistani player but went unsold.
✅ Women’s players including Aliya Riaz and Fatima Sana also failed to attract bids.
✅ Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell secured deals.
📌 PCB’s Financial Crisis: A Troubling Sign for Pakistan Cricket
🔹 The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has slashed domestic match fees by 90%, causing massive outrage among local players.
🔹 Match fees for National T20 Championship:
Also Read: Rohit Sharma Spends Quality Time With His Kids, Take A Look
- Previously: ₹100,000 per match
- Now: ₹10,000 per match (Reserve players get just ₹5,000).
🔹 Players are still waiting for payments from last season, and umpires have also not been paid.
🔹 Annual pension increases for former Test cricketers remain unpaid, violating board policies.
🔹 Facilities for domestic players have been significantly downgraded, including: - No more five-star accommodations (now placed in budget hotels).
- Reduction in air travel for players.
📌 Double Standards: PCB Officials Enjoy High Salaries
💰 While players suffer financial cuts, PCB officials continue to draw massive salaries in the millions.
💰 National selectors and team mentors are paid hefty salaries, while domestic players struggle with reduced match fees.
📌 Why Are Pakistani Players Being Ignored in T20 Leagues?
🚨 The Hundred is not the only league where Pakistani cricketers are being overlooked.
🚨 In the IPL, Big Bash League (BBL), and SA20, very few (if any) Pakistani players are signed.
🚨 Possible reasons:
- Uncertainty around international commitments & PCB policies.
- Frequent changes in Pakistan’s cricket leadership.
- Other leagues preferring players with fewer international commitments.
📌 What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
🔹 PCB must address its financial issues to ensure the survival of domestic cricket.
🔹 Will franchise leagues continue to ignore Pakistani players? The lack of exposure in international leagues could impact their performance in ICC tournaments.
🔹 The current economic crisis in PCB raises concerns about the future of cricket in Pakistan.
📌 Tags:
Pakistan cricket crisis, The Hundred draft snub, PCB financial crisis, Pakistani players ignored, cricket news, domestic cricket budget cuts, Naseem Shah unsold, T20 league snubs, Pakistan cricket humiliation, PCB controversy.