The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing significant criticism for failing to fulfill its obligations to the national women’s cricket squad. Despite public declarations to improve player salaries and bolster support for women’s cricket, the board has left athletes without pay for several months, leading to frustration and unrest within the team.
The PCB had promised a modest 3% salary increase for female cricketers. However, five months have elapsed without any significant developments. The promised pay raise remains unfulfilled, leading players to question the authenticity of the board’s commitments. Reports indicate that the team’s grievances have been consistently overlooked, further eroding trust in the PCB.
The situation was highlighted by Sana Mir, a former captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team and a representative of the Women’s Cricket Association (WCA). In her remarks, Mir voiced her dismay regarding the PCB’s management of women’s cricket contracts.
“As far as the women’s team is concerned, unfortunately, I have to say that we had praised PCB a lot, and it was on this empty aspect that their contract has been increased by three times. When reality came in, five months later, girls did not get even one rupee. From July till now, they did not receive any contracts, and when finally, these contracts were offered, the same-to-same previous contract got replicated, and they are not getting any daily allowance in the camp,” Mir disclosed.
The PCB’s inaction raises doubts about its claims of prioritizing women’s cricket. Earlier in August, the board spoke of transforming women’s cricket by creating opportunities for emerging talent and elevating the sport’s profile across the nation. Yet, the pressing issue of unpaid salaries overshadows these assertions, calling into question the board’s ability to live up to its assurances.
This predicament also underscores broader issues related to the PCB’s administrative failures, as the board has already been criticized for its oversight of domestic cricket, delays in issuing central contracts, and financial mismanagement.
“So, I don’t know why this attitude toward women’s cricket. I was very happy when I met the chairman, and he told me these are our plans, but I don’t know why these have not been implemented, and we have come back and stood on zero. So, I hope this will be addressed and changed,” Mir remarked.
In July, the PCB revamped its contract structure to promote a more performance-based culture, categorizing players into four tiers: A, B, C, and D. In contrast to the previous year, when 20 players secured lucrative two-year contracts with substantial pay hikes, this year’s contracts emphasize a stronger focus on players’ recent performances.
Emerging talents such as Fatima Sana and Muneeba Ali received upgrades in recognition of their contributions and progress. Conversely, the omission of experienced players like Aliya Riaz and Nida Dar raised concerns, illustrating the tough decisions taken during evaluations. Despite these changes, the persistent issues of unpaid salaries and unmet promises overshadowed these advancements, disheartening players and prompting doubts about the board’s dedication.
Currently, the PCB has not issued an official statement addressing the delayed payments or the status of the anticipated salary increase. This silence only heightens the growing dissatisfaction among players and supporters, leaving the future of women’s cricket in Pakistan in a precarious state.
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