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Pakistan's players receive 25% pay rise

Pakistan's top players have been given 25% pay rises as well as the lure of cash incentives for wins in the series they play this year as well as the World Cup next year

Cricinfo staff
These three have a reason to smile © AFP
Pakistan's top players have been given 25% pay rises as well as the lure of cash incentives for wins in the series they play this year as well as the World Cup next year. The PCB announced renewed central contracts for 20 players and the board's chairman, Shaharyar Khan told reporters in Lahore on Wednesday that the cash incentives had been introduced as part of the discussions with the players.

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"These cash incentives are nothing new to Pakistan cricket," said Shaharyar. "We have been giving awards after each series or match win. The only difference is that now we have made it part of the contract. We have awarded central contracts to 20 players with a 25% rise as demanded and mutually agreed with the players."

Pakistan players, led by captain Inzamam-ul Haq, last month demanded a pay rise and performance-related bonuses for next year's World Cup., wishes it appears that have now been granted.

Centrally-contracted players are divided into three pay scales depending on seniority and experience. From last year's contracts,, players in the top bracket - Inzamam, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi - were on a monthly retainer of US$3750. Players in the bracket below - including the likes of Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal - received US$2500 a month while players in the bottom rung were paid US$1250 a month. These amounts will all increase by 25%.

Additionally, the incentives mean that for every win in a Test or one-day international against England, West Indies (at home) and South Africa (away series) each player will be paid US$ 3,333.

On top of that,each series win against England, West Indies or South Africa will help the players pocket a further US$8,333.33.

For this October's ICC Champions Trophy in India, each player is promised US$ 1,666.66 if the team reaches the semifinals and US$3,666.66 if it qualifies for the final. Winning the competition will earn each player US$ 8,333.33.

Though there was speculation that Shoaib Akhtar might not be included in the contracts list due to a spate of injuries that has kept him out for much of this year, he was retained in the top group of players. Yasir Hameed and Arshad Khan, however, were not so lucky and their contracts have not been renewed from last year. The total number of players awarded contracts has also been cut from 23 to 20,with the savings from those cuts, says the PCB, going towards the increments.

Shabbir Ahmed, currently serving a one-year ban from the ICC for a faulty action, has also not been awarded a contract though the PCB is arranging a special package of benefits for him till he returns.

Pakistan