A great move and long overdue :k:
Why our lads haven’t stood up for themselves before I fail to understand. Despite facing threats on previous tours of India and South Africa, Pakistan players have always dutifully followed the orders given by their board for the greater good of the game. Following the SA tour fiasco, looks like they’ve finally had enough.
Pakistan players gear up to form union
KARACHI: Senior Pakistan players have started efforts to form a recognised players association in a bid to support the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and safeguard their own interests following the teams’ refusal to tour Pakistan citing security concerns.
Captain Rashid Latif confirmed on Monday that the players had held talks after South Africa decided to pull out of the Pakistan tour on Saturday. “Cancelled and relocated tours are causing loss of earnings to us, portraying a very negative image of the country and making things very difficult for the PCB, specially from a financial point of view,” Rashid said on Monday. “I’ve been in correspondence with Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) Chief Executive Tim May and he’s keen to see the formation of a players association in Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s players were not compensated by the PCB after New Zealand aborted a scheduled Test in Karachi last year following a bomb blast that left 14 people dead. The players fear that if teams continue to boycott Pakistan as an international venue, the PCB would not be in a position to compensate them and they would suffer a loss of earnings.
“The losses are not only confined to our match fees, but also to endorsements and other sponsorship deals because if there is no international cricket in Pakistan, why should we expect the sponsors to fulfill their commitments to us?” asked Rashid.
If South Africa don’t tour Pakistan, the senior most Pakistan player stands to lose up to Rs 275,000 for a cancelled one-dayer and upto Rs 250,000 for a cancelled Test. South Africa were scheduled to play three Tests and three one-dayers, but under the rescheduled itinerary they might play two Tests and three ODIs.
“We want to support the PCB and we’ll form our association with their approval,” stated Rashid.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) at a meeting held last week in Mumbai discussed directly talking to the players’ associations but only those that are recognised by the cricket boards of their respective countries.
Rashid observed in Pakistan’s cricket culture it would be difficult to form and run a recognized association without the support of the PCB.
In the past some attempts were made to form players associations, but differences among seniors led to a dead-end.
Rashid said senior players were convinced that an association was then necessary as they needed a forum to counter those countries or players’ associations who’re refusing to tour Pakistan.
Last year the West Indies and Australia refused to come to Pakistan and the PCB were forced to relocate the series to neutral venues.
