Mohsin Naqvi BLOCKS Pakistan domestic cricketers' pay cut

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to reduce match fees for players in the upcoming National T20 Cup. However, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi intervened to stop the proposed 75% cut, adding that domestic cricketers would not face a reduction in the National T20 Tournament.

The National T20 Cup will commence on March 14, featuring 39 matches across Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. Notably, the final is set to take place in Faisalabad on March 27. Several top Pakistani cricketers will miss the tournament as they are touring New Zealand for a series of five T20Is and three ODIs.

PCB Reduces Player Match Fees by 75% for National T20 Cup

Earlier, the PCB had announced a significant reduction in match fees for the National T20 Cup. They decreased payments from PKR 40,000 to PKR 10,000 per match, citing an increase in domestic tournaments as the reason.

This sparked a backlash from players and stakeholders, who raised concerns about the financial impact on domestic cricketers.

The new match fee is a 75% decrease from the previous edition and an even steeper drop from 2022 when players earned PKR 60,000 per match. Reserve players in this edition will receive just PKR 5,000 per match.

The PCB believes that players now have more earning opportunities due to an expanded domestic calendar, including the Champions T20 Cup held in December 2024, which featured five teams.

The same five-team format is used for both 50-over and first-class tournaments. Many players receive a monthly salary from departmental teams for events like the President’s Trophy. The board felt that the reduction in match fees does not necessarily result in a decrease in overall earnings.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Reverses Match Fee Reduction for Domestic Cricketers

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has directed the Director of Domestic Cricket to prevent any cuts to player compensation in the National T20 Tournament. Geo TV sports correspondent Sohail Imran confirmed the chairman’s intervention.

"PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi intervened to stop the reduction in match fees for domestic cricketers in the National T20 Tournament and ordered an immediate review of the fees," Sohail Imran wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi intervened to stop the reduction in match fees for domestic cricketers in the National T20 Tournament and ordered an immediate review of the fees.

— Sohail Imran (@sohailimrangeo) March 13, 2025

With Mohsin Naqvi stepping in, there is now a possibility that domestic players' match fees will be reviewed. The board may overturn the significant pay cut.

Pakistan Had a Disappointing Campaign in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan had a disappointing campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy. They suffered a group-stage exit despite being the host nation. They lost their first two Group A matches against India and New Zealand, while their final game against Bangladesh was washed out.

Pakistan finished winless and played only one match at home in their first ICC tournament as hosts in 29 years.

The team will now tour New Zealand for a five-match T20I and three-match ODI series. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped from the T20I squad but retained in the ODI lineup. The tour will begin with the first T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on March 16.

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