As Pakistan prepare to kick off their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE on October 3 against Sri Lanka, the players are still waiting on four months of unpaid salaries.
Despite being on a 23-month contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) starting from August 1, 2023, they haven’t been paid since June 2024. The contracts, set to run until June 2025, were to be reviewed after 12 months, but no updates have been made.
PCB acknowledged the delay, saying, “It is a work in progress. Once the lists are finalized and approved, contracts will be offered effective from July 1, 2024.”
The delay has been attributed to multiple ongoing matters that have slowed down the process.
Unlike the men’s team, which is also awaiting salary payments, the reasons behind the delays differ. Additionally, women players didn’t receive daily allowances during their training camp in Multan, though the support staff did.
PCB policy dictates no allowances if accommodation and meals are provided during camps.
Pakistan’s women cricketers remain some of the lowest-paid among Full Member Nations, despite the PCB being the fourth-richest cricket board.
While other countries like India, England, and New Zealand have achieved pay parity between men’s and women’s players, Pakistan has yet to make similar moves.
The PCB plans to increase its investment in women’s cricket by $600,000 this season, but details are still pending. The disparity between men’s and women’s match fees in Pakistan remains one of the largest among Full Member Nations.