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As the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues to recover from the humiliation of losing its hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025 and Pakistan’s disastrous group-stage exit from the tournament, fresh controversy has erupted—this time over the match fees for the National T20 Championship.
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PCB’s Back-and-Forth on Players’ Match Fees
Initially, the PCB drastically reduced the match fees for domestic players, cutting it down to Rs 10,000 for playing members and Rs 5,000 for reserves. This move sparked widespread backlash from players and cricketing circles, forcing PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to step in.
Following the public outrage, the PCB was compelled to revise its decision, increasing the match fee to Rs 40,000 for players and Rs 20,000 for reserves.
Pakistan Cricket Under Heavy Scrutiny
The Pakistan men’s team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, is under immense pressure after their winless Champions Trophy campaign, where they suffered defeats against New Zealand and India before their last group-stage match against Bangladesh was washed out. Their early exit on home soil has only intensified criticism of the PCB’s management.
Adding to the chaos, Pakistan’s domestic cricket is also under the scanner. The PCB recently scrapped the National Under-19 Championship just one day into the tournament, citing age-fudging concerns and organizational issues.
No Cost-Cutting in Other Areas
Despite implementing cost-cutting measures for players’ match fees, the PCB has not applied similar reductions elsewhere. According to PTI reports, the Board has not cut costs on travel, accommodation, or administrative expenses.
Insiders claim that the increase in domestic tournaments this season—which were not included in the initial budget—has led to financial strain, prompting the PCB to attempt pay cuts for players.
National T20 Cup Begins Amid Controversy
The National T20 Cup is set to begin on Friday, with 39 matches scheduled across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. However, most of Pakistan’s national stars will be missing from the tournament due to the upcoming tour of New Zealand (March 16 – April 5), where they will play five T20Is and three ODIs.
With Pakistan cricket already in turmoil, the PCB’s latest U-turn on player payments has only added fuel to the fire, raising concerns about the Board’s management and financial planning.
