Is PCB Bankrupt? Babar Azam and Pakistan Teammates Haven't Received Any Salary in Four Months

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself in hot water, with reports surfacing that players, including star cricketer Babar Azam, who stepped down as white-ball captain, have not received their salaries for four months, covering the period from July to October 2024, reported Cricket Pakistan.

This delay has raised questions about the financial stability of the PCB, prompting concerns about its ability to manage contracts and compensation for its players effectively. Despite numerous reminders, the payments remain pending, creating unrest among the cricketers who are uncertain about their future.

In 2023, the PCB introduced new central contracts after lengthy negotiations with senior players. These contracts were slated to run from July 2023 to June 2026 and included a three per cent share of ICC revenues along with enhanced monthly salaries. However, only a year into the contracts, the board revisited the terms, originally seeking to reduce player compensation. Though this decision was reversed, the ongoing delays have left players frustrated.

Player Categories

• Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi earn a base salary of 4.5 million rupees per month, along with an additional 1.53 million rupees from ICC revenue, making their total monthly earnings 6.03 million rupees.
• Category B: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan receive 3 million rupees per month, along with 1.147 million rupees from the ICC, for a total of 4.147 million rupees.
• Category C: Players such as Imad Wasim, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, and Nauman Ali receive a base of 1 million rupees, plus 765,000 rupees from ICC revenue, totaling 1.765 million rupees monthly.
• Category D: Players like Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Haris earn 750,000 rupees, with an additional 382,500 rupees from the ICC, totaling 1.132 million rupees per month.

Also read: Babar Azam mocked after his second captaincy resignation in one year: 'Sad day for other teams'

While the PCB has attributed these delays to ongoing revisions in the selection process and pending fitness tests, the lack of timely payments has sparked speculation about the board’s financial standing. With the pending salaries and sponsorship payments, the situation remains tense, as Pakistan's cricket team navigates both on-field challenges and off-field uncertainties.