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PCB under scanner, Babar Azam & Co playing WC without salary for 5 months

PCB under scanner, Babar Azam & Co playing WC without salary for 5 months

Pakistan Cricket Team is under immense scrutiny after a hat-trick of losses in World Cup with PCB issuing a statement, throwing Babar Azam & chief selector Inzamam Ul Haq under the bus.

With four matches still to go, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement, throwing captain Babar Azam under the bus, saying he had full freedom in team selection. The statement also added that a decision on Pakistan’s captaincy will be taken after the Cricket World Cup. But despite a lengthy negotiation process for Pakistan Cricket Central Contracts, and a lot of back and forth, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and all Pakistani players have not received their salaries for the last five months. It is after Pakistan players agreed to PCB’s most demands including NOC to play in franchise T20 leagues.

Yet, as players are facing harsh criticism for their performance in the Cricket World Cup, they are playing without getting paid for five months as per Pakistan’s Samaa TV. PCB earlier announced a 200% pay hike for players. But in reality, none has been paid.

Insidesport

With negotiations ongoing, Babar Azam & Co played Asia Cup without any contract or pay. As Pakistan exited the Asia Cup from the Super 4 stage, PCB blamed players for playing in T20 leagues. With that, Pakistani cricketers had to concede a little on the NOCs. Even after signing a mega contract, Shaheen Afridi is still uncertain to play in the ILT20 2024.

Poor World Cup campaign

While the expectations were that Pakistan Cricket Team would make it to the semifinals of Cricket World Cup without too much hassle, it hasn’t happened so far. Pakistan Cricket Team surrendered to Team India in front of a hostile crowd. But it was just the beginning.

Pakistan Cricket Team went on to lose to Australia by 62 runs and to top it off, they lost to neighbours Afghanistan by 8 wickets. And all hell broke loose.

Pakistan in WC so far:

  • Won by 81 runs vs Netherlands
  • Won by 6 wickets vs Sri Lanka
  • Lost by 7 wickets vs India
  • Lost by 62 runs vs Australia
  • Lost by 8 wickets vs Afghanistan

PCB statement

No cricket board in the world comments on captaincy during a World Cup campaign. And even if they do, they offer unconditional support. Yet, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf released a statement that had too many things wrong.

Even as the headline of the press release read: “PCB urges cricket fraternity to support Pakistan Team” amid harsh criticism from fans, the statement was something else.

“Captain Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq were given freedom and support in forming the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023,” the PCB statement read.

Without taking any responsibility for the team’s performance, PCB threw Inzamam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam under the bus.

“Looking ahead, the board will make decisions in the best interest of Pakistan cricket based on the team’s performances in the World Cup,” it added, opening the door to yet another change in Pakistan captaincy.

Cricket World Cup Schedule for Pakistan

DateDayTeam 1Team 2CityTime
Oct 6FridayPakistanNetherlandsHyderabadPak won by 81 runs
Oct 10TuesdayPakistanSri LankaHyderabadPak won by 6 wickets
Oct 14SaturdayIndiaPakistanAhmedabadIndia won by 7 wickets
Oct 20FridayAustraliaPakistanBengaluruAus won by 62 runs
Oct 23MondayPakistanAfghanistanChennaiPak lost by 8 wickets
Oct 27FridayPakistanSouth AfricaChennaiPak lost by 1-wicket
Oct 31TuesdayPakistanBangladeshKolkataPak won by 7-wickets
Nov 4SaturdayNew ZealandPakistanBengaluruPakistan won by 21 runs via DLS
Nov 11SaturdayEnglandPakistanKolkata2:00 PM
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