Islamabad, June 15, 2024, The Europe Today: In light of the national team’s poor performance and subsequent elimination from the T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to reassess the central contracts of its players, according to the media sources.
Sources revealed that the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has called for a thorough review of player retention and salaries following the team’s disappointing showing in the tournament. Senior PCB officials were reportedly in their offices late into the night, deliberating on the team’s performance and central contract issues.
In the first phase of this reassessment, players who underperformed are expected to face demotions in their central contracts. Additionally, several players may lose their contracts altogether, according to the sources.
This decision follows Pakistan’s elimination from the T20 World Cup after failing to advance to the Super Eight stage. The Green Shirts lost their initial matches against the United States, a new entrant, and arch-rivals India. The match between the US and Ireland was abandoned due to rain on Friday, leading the co-hosts to secure one point, which dashed Pakistan’s hopes of advancing further in the tournament.
With their final league game against Ireland now merely a formality, the national team is set to return home afterward. This marks the third instance in the tournament’s history that Pakistan has exited in the league round.
Geo News had previously reported that significant changes were likely for the team, with players such as Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, and Usman Khan expected to face challenges in maintaining their positions in the national side.
Additionally, sources indicated that a group of three players had been blackmailing PCB officials through their manager, who represents all three. This group had pressured the board to secure significant salary increases in their central contracts. Last year, under former PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf, these players had secured a three-year central contract with increased remunerations effective from July 1.
Since then, the team has failed in multiple international tournaments, including the Asia Cup 2023, ODI World Cup 2023, and the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The national side also struggled during tours of Australia and New Zealand.
The PCB will now reconsider the current remuneration packages of the players as part of its broader strategy to improve the team’s performance and accountability moving forward.
