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September 17, 2024
Cricket’s global union has described player payments in T20 leagues as the ‘Wild West.’
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has vehemently denied any delays in player payments within the Pakistan Super League (PSL) following a report from the global players’ union, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA). The PCB, known for its unwavering commitment to timely payments, has refuted the concerns raised by FICA, emphasizing that it has consistently upheld this principle throughout the league’s history.
On Wednesday, FICA introduced a “leagues hub” aimed at helping players, agents, and associations navigate the complex landscape of global franchise cricket. This initiative is significant as it provides a centralized platform for information and support, addressing the increasing concerns about player payments in the ‘Wild West’ of franchise leagues. The PCB, however, refuted any such misgivings about the PSL, maintaining its stance on upholding timely payments throughout the league’s history.
FICA reported that one in four players has faced payment issues in various sanctioned leagues, citing major franchise tournaments such as the IPL, WPL, Bangladesh Premier League, Lanka Premier League, Canada’s Global T20, Major League Cricket, Abu Dhabi T10, and the PSL.
However, Usman Wahla, the PCB’s director of international cricket operations, firmly denied any payment delays within the PSL. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Wahla stated, “There is no – and never has been – any delay in player payments in any of our nine [PSL] seasons… we have written to FICA to rectify this in their document.”
The PSL’s contract terms require that players receive 70% of their payment within seven days of their arrival in Pakistan, with the remaining 30% to be paid within 40 days after their final league match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has consistently denied allegations of delayed payments in the PSL, including claims made by Australian allrounder James Faulkner during the 2022 season. Faulkner withdrew from the tournament, accusing the PCB of breaching its contract.
Still, the board dismissed the accusations as unfounded and maintained that all payments were made as per the agreement.”In the seven years of the HBL Pakistan Super League, no player has ever complained about the nonfulfillment of the PCB’s contractual obligations,” the PCB said.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Tom Moffat, FICA’s chief executive, said, “The Hub reflects where we have had issues reported to us either directly or via our regular global player and agent survey data.”
The feedback from players and agents on both PSL and IPL is overwhelmingly positive, serving as a beacon of hope amidst the concerns raised by FICA. The majority of the late and non-payment issues we see are in more minor and start-up leagues.” Moffat said in a press release: “The growth of domestic leagues worldwide has been a great thing for cricket and has provided several new opportunities for players. However, inconsistencies with the treatment of players have led to the landscape being considered by many as the ‘Wild West.’
FICA continues to advocate for fit-for-purpose global regulation and increased accountability in the domestic league landscape to protect all stakeholders, including players. In the meantime, we are committed to supporting players, their associations, and agents by providing information in the Leagues Hub to assist their decision-making. We also welcome engagement from domestic leagues who wish to work directly with players collectively to raise standards and ensure their league aligns with international best practices in an increasingly competitive market.”
The BCCI was contacted for comment in response to FICA’s findings that players have faced late or non-payment issues in both the major franchise leagues it governs: the IPL and the WPL.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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