PCB Slashes National T20 Cup Match Fees By 75% Despite Promises To Invest In Cricket – Live India – Live India TV

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Lahore [Pakistan], March 13: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has drastically reduced match fees for players participating in the upcoming National T20 Cup, marking a staggering 75% decline from the previous edition, according to ESPNcricinfo.
With the new financial structure, cricketers will now earn PKR 10,000 per match, a significant drop from PKR 40,000 in the last edition. The reserve players will now receive just PKR 5,000 per match. This is a sharp contrast to 2022, when players were earning PKR 60,000 per match, making it one of the biggest pay cuts in Pakistan’s domestic cricket history.
The decision comes as a surprise, especially considering PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s previous statements about investing in players, facilities, and coaching. Soon after his appointment, Naqvi emphasized that PCB’s funds should be utilized to improve cricket rather than be “locked away.”
“We’ll try to make the best available for you. I have told the PCB our job is not to save money or keep it hoarded away, but to spend it on cricket, from grassroots right through to the national team. The money will be spent on your fitness, training, and coaches rather than keeping it locked away,” Naqvi had declared.
Despite these statements, the massive pay cut for domestic players has raised serious concerns about PCB’s priorities.
While players’ match fees have been slashed, PCB has been lavish in other areas, spending heavily on stadium renovations, hiring foreign coaches, and appointing expensive mentors. The board recently hired five former cricketers—Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shoaib Malik—as mentors, each receiving PKR 5 million per month.
A PCB official denied financial constraints as the reason behind the drastic reduction in player payments. According to the official, players now have more earning opportunities due to the increased number of domestic tournaments in the annual calendar.
“The decision is not because of financial issues. We believe that with more tournaments being played, the players now have more chances to earn money,” the official told ESPNcricinfo.
However, critics argue that cutting match fees demotivates domestic players and discourages young talent from pursuing professional cricket.
The National T20 Cup 2025 is set to begin on March 14, featuring 39 matches across three cities—Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. The final will take place on March 27 in Faisalabad.
While PCB insists that the players will earn more due to an increased number of tournaments, the decision to slash match fees contradicts the board’s commitment to investing in player development. With the National T20 Cup about to start, all eyes will be on how players react to the drastic financial restructuring.
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