Mohammad Hafeez and Domestic Cricketers Await Outstanding Payments from PCB

Payments

LAHORE: There are growing concerns within the Pakistan cricket community as Mohammad Hafeez, the former team director of the national side, along with numerous domestic cricketers, have yet to receive their payments from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

These financial delays have occurred under the leadership of the current PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, and seem to be linked to the transition from his predecessor, Zaka Ashraf.

Mohammad Hafeez, who was appointed as team director by Zaka Ashraf following the dismissal of Mickey Arthur due to poor team performance in the Asia Cup and the World Cup, has not been compensated for his services, which spanned from November 16, 2023, to February 16, 2024.

The decision to appoint Hafeez was made by the then-chairman of the PCB’s interim Management Committee, Zaka, who also sought approval for a four-year tenure for Hafeez from the caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq. However, this recommendation was left unapproved at the time of Zaka’s resignation.

During his brief tenure, the national team’s performances under Hafeez’s direction did not see any significant improvement, with disappointing tours in Australia and New Zealand.

Pakistan faced defeats in all three Test matches against Australia and lost the T20I series against New Zealand with a score of 4-1.

Zaka resigned shortly after these tours, citing frustrations over restricted decision-making powers, leaving several financial and administrative matters unresolved, including Hafeez’s pending payments.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the documentation required to process Hafeez’s dues is complete but is pending approval from higher authorities.

There is a reported disagreement between Hafeez and the PCB regarding the exact duration of his payment entitlements, as his contract began on November 15, 2023, and he was involved with the team until the tour of New Zealand concluded on January 21, 2024.

Moreover, this transition period has also affected domestic cricketers who are still awaiting their match fees from various tournaments last year, including the National T20 Cup, and the National U-19 and U-16 cricket tournaments.

Interestingly, the PCB promptly settled payments for the Ramadan Cup, which was held across Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad during the holy month of Ramadan. This selective payment process has raised eyebrows among regional cricket associations and players alike.

Adding to the discontent, there are outstanding prize monies from several domestic tournaments that took place during Zaka Ashraf’s tenure, which remain unpaid.

The prioritization of certain payments over others has led to a sense of unease and concern among players and stakeholders regarding the PCB’s financial management and governance under its new leadership.