The PCB has significantly reduced match fees for players in the upcoming National T20 Cup, cutting them by 75% from the previous edition. Players will now receive PKR 10,000 (approximately US$ 35) per match, down from PKR 40,000 last year. The reduction is even steeper compared to 2022 when players were paid PKR 60,000 per match. Reserve players in this edition will earn PKR 5,000 (around US$ 17.50) per match.
This sharp cut in match fees contrasts with the PCB’s high spending under chairman Mohsin Naqvi. After taking charge, Naqvi stated that PCB’s funds should benefit players and Pakistan cricket rather than remain unused. Since then, the board has spent heavily on stadium upgrades, foreign coaches on costly contracts, and five mentors earning PKR 5 million monthly. The PCB also organized a domestic one-day tournament with prize money increased tenfold.
A PCB official told ESPNcricinfo that financial concerns were not behind the fee cuts. Instead, the board believes players’ overall earnings remain stable due to more domestic tournaments. The Champions T20 Cup, held in December 2024 with five teams, follows a format that extends to 50-over and first-class competitions. Additionally, players employed by departments receive monthly salaries, which the PCB argues balances the lower match fees.
The National T20 Cup begins on March 14, featuring 39 matches across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. The final will be played in Faisalabad on March 27. However, several top Pakistan internationals will miss the tournament as they are in New Zealand for five T20Is and three ODIs.
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