Pakistan Teams Threaten To Boycott PCB

Pakistan Players & PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi (R) (Source: AP Photos)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to be in trouble once again, and this time, some of the teams from their own country are making the board members’ lives miserable.

Matters regarding financial structures often become the topic of discussion in Pakistan cricket. According to a fresh report filed by Telecom Asia Sport, it happened again in Pakistan, and the PCB was at the receiving end.

PCB Faces Internal Revolt

As the report suggested, PCB tripled the money as entry fees for Pakistan's premier domestic First-Class tournament. Earlier, it was PKR 5 million (approximately USD 17,600), and the PCB has now set PKR 15 million (approximately USD 52,800) for participation.

Pakistan domestic teams did not take the decision in a welcoming manner, believing that a 200 per cent raise all of a sudden is too much for them. Therefore, seven out of eight departmental teams have told the PCB they would withdraw from the competition if the PCB does not rethink the entry fees.

"Officials from seven teams have held several discussions and unanimously feel the increase is unacceptable. As things stand, we are not planning to participate in the tournament," a team official told Telecom Asia Sport.

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Moreover, the PCB also told Pakistan departmental teams to pay the players' match salaries themselves.

Earlier, team owners used to pay players' salaries, and the PCB used to pay the match fees. Now, they have been asked to give the players both.

"We already spend millions of rupees every year on players' salaries. Adding match fees will only increase the financial pressure, and our management is unlikely to approve it," he added.

Mohsin Naqvi's PCB To Stay Silent Despite Protests

PCB, meanwhile, will not change its stance on Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, known as the President Trophy Grade I. The tournament is scheduled to get underway on September 12 this year, with eight teams supposed to participate.

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Out of them, seven Pakistan teams warned the PCB, headed by Mohsin Naqvi, they could withdraw if they don’t change their financial moves by next week. The PCB, still, is unbothered by the development.

"The PCB is not going to reverse the decision or be blackmailed. If some teams pull out, we have other departments ready to come in," a PCB source told Telecom Asia Sport.

Notably, they also have a T20 competition, known as KCA TCM Presidents Cup T20.