Pakistan Cricket: Transparency Issues and the Miseries of Players

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan – Kikxnow , digital creator

Pakistan cricket has been known to bring out the best in talent and world-class players. Nonetheless, over the past few years it has become apparent that a deficiency in basic transparency and administrative responsibility has not merely dissuaded players but also diluted public trust severely. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the nation's largest domestic competition, is one such example: the administration receives opulent paychecks and benefits while doing little to nothing for the well-being and basic amenities of the players.

Take the uniform quality in Pakistan's largest tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, for instance—it's impossible to distinguish if the trousers are cricket pants or a loose traditional shalwar! And as for the fabric quality—well, let's just say it says a lot about the passion for cricket: salaries in crores and millions while everything else is overlooked. Sad!

The issue was especially visible recently in the finals of one Karachi regional competition, particularly in the ladies' matches. The quality of the clothing provided to the game was unacceptable. The shirts and trousers were that poorly constructed, it was hard to determine whether they were actually designed for use in cricket or merely made as a display. The female players did not only get inferior equipment, but also had to organize basic apparatus such as gloves, footwear, and other basic equipment for themselves.

This is all when players are provided with very restricted financial support. One player gets a mere PKR 27,000 for each match, and there are nine matches in the tournament. With such meager earnings, players are unable to have the proper diet and nutrition that would be needed to maintain their physical fitness. Players' meals are restricted to mere lentils and rice, although a proper diet and proper support are necessary for the best level of performance.

This scenario is not specific to female players; the male players suffer equally. Pakistan holds the prestige of being fourth on ICC revenue collections, but the administration has not discharged its duty. The players, who play for Pakistan internationally, are made to fight for their fundamental rights.

The problem lies in the absence of transparency among the administration. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and institutions of its association pay millions in salaries and allowances to their employees and senior officials, while paying scant regard towards the provision of basic facilities for players. The board's priorities are obviously misplaced. The majority of the public money and cricket revenues are gulped by the salaries and perks of high-ranking officials, while the hardest workers—the players—are compelled to play without even the most basic facilities.

No change has been witnessed in the organization despite public outcry and media coverage. The scenario is posing a major threat towards Pakistan cricket's future, especially the development of women's cricket. The female players not only lack financial support but also do not have adequate facilities for training and competition. This impacts the game's quality as well as deterring new players from taking up cricket.

Here, the public and media need to bring it into the limelight and make players' rights a cause celebre. Using the RTI (Right to Information) legislation for calling for transparency is imperative for knowing where the money is going and how tenders and allocations are done for player development.

 

Actual change in Pakistan cricket will be feasible only when the management alters its priorities, keeps players' well-being top priority, and guarantees transparency and accountability. Minor reforms, like ensuring quality apparel, adequate diet, and basic equipment, can contribute enormously towards bolstering the morale of the players and the game's overall standard.

The situation now calls for not just the media but the public to take action. In the absence of public pressure and demands for accountability, the issues in Pakistan cricket will never be solved. It is important not just for women cricketers but for men cricketers, young cricketers, and cricket in the future.

The transparency deficit, contempt for players' fundamental rights, and misplaced priorities in Pakistan cricket are deterring young players and impacting the level of the game. Unless Pakistan cricket wants to stay on the global map, the board has to take immediate steps to ensure player welfare, minimum facilities, and fiscal transparency. If not, the existing trend will erode the sport's growth and pose problems for Pakistan cricket globally.

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