Denied central contracts by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), senior cricketers, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, have received a pay boost as the board offered them an increase in the match fees.
According to a PTI report, the four players have been told by Pakistan's apex body that since they don't have any central contracts, they will now be getting match fees in the 'A' category which they were previously being paid in the 'C' category.
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"The four had voiced their reservations to the board's CEO, Wasim Khan that they are being treated unfairly that despite not being given central contracts, they are not being paid match fees in the highest category reserved for seniors," a source close to the developments told PTI.
"Previously after the central contracts were announced and they were not named in the list, they were paid fees for playing for the national team in the 'C' category which roughly came to Rs 2,02,000 for a one day international and lesser for a T20 international."
The report mentioned, players who receive match fees in the 'A' category get around "4,60,000 for a one-day international and Rs 3,30,000 for a T20 international (approximately)".
However, the PCB didn't encourage a request made by the players that they should also be given compensation for missing out on T20 league contracts abroad due to international duties.
Hafeez had to recently take his name back from the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 on being picked for the tour of New Zealand coming up.
"The board has said that it cannot give any compensation for this and the players have to give priority to national duty," the source said.
Given the times, the PCB couldn't also grant Hafeez permission to join the national squad late for the Kiwi tour.
"He was told that due to the quarantine and isolation requirements in New Zealand. He has to go with the team or miss out if he wants to go and play in the Lanka premier league which starts from 17 November," the source said.
Wahab joined Hafeez in the 35-member squad that left to face the Black Caps while Amir and Malik, not picked for the tour, have gone to Sri Lanka for LPL T20.
Malik, having retired from Test and ODIs, is focussing solely on T20 cricket at the twilight of his career, unlike Hafeez who remains available for both the white-ball formats.
Amir and Wahab seemed to have rubbed the administrative regime the wrong way last year by announcing their premature Test retirements and the selectors and the team management have since shown an inclination towards youth to fill their void long-term.
