Several Pakistan cricketers have reportedly not received their salaries for the past four months, as contract negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continue to stall.
This delay has left Pakistan cricketers frustrated, particularly those who had successfully negotiated better terms last year but now find themselves in a weaker position due to the team’s recent poor performances.
The PCB had originally agreed to provide central contracts to 25 players following lengthy discussions last year. However, despite these agreements, the current situation has changed dramatically. The players have not been paid their salaries from July to October, and reminders to the PCB have resulted in further delays. In addition, players have not received their share of sponsorship deals for months.
The national team’s consistent underperformance has left players in a weaker negotiating position. The lack of a players’ association has only added to their struggles. Cricketers like Babar Azam, who previously played a leading role in negotiations with the PCB, now find themselves unable to leverage their position, especially as they grapple with their own form issues.
Sources reveal that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is taking a hardline stance on contract negotiations, refusing to be pressured by even the top players. He has instructed that no player, no matter their seniority, will receive a contract without passing strict fitness tests.