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PCB plans to revive cash awards

By Our Sports Reporter

26 September 1998


KARACHI, Sept 25: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) plans to revive cash incentives for the team from this season. Chairman of the cricket board, Khalid Mahmood, said the idea was being mooted and hoped that a decision would be taken in the next few days.

``I firmly believe that whatever is coming in the kitty of the PCB, it is because of the players. Therefore, they deserve a share in the profits.

``There is a clause in contract with one of our sponsors that they would pay a sizeable amount to the members of the team after every series win. Why has it been stopped, I have to investigate,'' he said from Lahore.

According to informed sources, Pepsi Cola was contractually bound to pay US$10,000 as win bonus per match. However, that has now been changed to US$40,000 per season.

Well placed sources further stated that each member of the Pakistan team was promised Rs 100,000 after they won the Sahara Cup in Canada. Nevertheless, the approval would be taken from the executive council on Saturday after which the commitment would be honoured.

However, no cash incentive has been so far announced by the cricket board for the series against Australia though each member of the team was paid Rs 100,000 for every series win until the 1996 tour of England.

Talking about the PCB's contract with the players, Khalid Mahmood said the format has almost been finalized and would be given to the players ``as soon as possible.''

``According to the new agreement, the retainer allowance will not be deducted from the annual earnings of a player. There was never a dispute to increase the retainer allowance,'' he said.

He said the players contract will be of 12 months and will come into effect from Sept 1. ``The players are under contractual agreement with the board from Sept 1 though they have not signed the documents yet. Whenever they sign, it would still be effective from Sept 1.''

Mahmood was, however, unsure how many players would be given the contracts.

``It's upto the selection committee to recommend the number of players. They may suggest 20 players or 25 players and even 10 players. It's entirely upto them,'' he said.

Mahmood said there was a proposal according to which the captain of the team would be paid an additional amount for looking after the team. ``It's an extra duty for the captain who, I think, should be compensated, like other cricket boards such as South Africa, England and Australia do.''


Source: Dawn
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