Pakistani cricketers have received an increase of 15 percent in their monthly salaries and a raise of 55,000 rupees in their Test match fees but most of their demands for pay raises have been shelved by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
A reliable source told PTI that Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq and senior player, Muhammad Hafeez had a meeting with PCB Chairman, Zaka Ashraf, chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmed, Intikhab Alam and chief selector, Iqbal Qasim in Lahore yesterday to discuss the pay raise issue in the central contract.
"Unfortunately, while the board has given them a partial pay hike, most of their demands have been shelved for the time being because of the tight financial condition of the board," the source said.
He said that most of the players, who were leaving early tomorrow morning to play one-day series in Scotland and Ireland and then the Champions Trophy in England, signed the contacts offered to them after the meeting.
"But, interestingly, the main complaint is they were only given the last page of the contract to sign on and told they will get their full contract on tour from manager, Naved Cheema," the source said.
Last year, the board had given a pay raise of 25 percent in the monthly salaries and also increased the players' Test, ODI and T20 fees by around 20 percent.
The source added the list of players, to be given the central contracts, has been prepeared and should be announced by tomorrow.
"The main thing is that Umar Akmal and Abdul Rehman have been placed in category B of the contract while Shahid Afridi despite being dropped for the Champions Trophy is retained in category A," the source said.
Afridi, Misbah, Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Younis Khan are placed in category A of the contract and have been given a 15 percent raise in their existing monthly salary.
