Increased domestic contracts for Pakistan’s women cricketers, yet remuneration continues to be a pressing issue | Cricbuzz Analysis

**Pakistan Women’s Cricket: Expanded Domestic Contracts Amidst Financial Concerns**

In a noteworthy move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced domestic contracts for 90 women cricketers for the 2024-25 season, an increase from the previous 79. This new roster includes 10 capped international players, 62 emerging talents, and 18 Under-19 athletes. However, while this expansion marks progress, the remuneration remains alarmingly low.

The match fees for domestic cricketers stand at PKR 20,000 (approximately USD 71) per game. Meanwhile, the monthly retainer of PKR 35,000 (approximately USD 125) falls short of Pakistan’s minimum wage for unskilled labor, which is PKR 37,000. To exacerbate matters, players report that this season has seen no daily allowances.

The PCB’s statement expressed a commitment to nurturing grassroots talent and encouraging professionalism among young players. Yet, the financial reality paints a starkly different picture. Despite the increased number of contracts, the earning potential for players has stagnated, causing some to abandon the domestic circuit prematurely.

Prominent figures such as Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz, both consistently part of the national squad, were notably omitted from the revised central contracts, which were themselves delayed by five months. The PCB provides a maximum of 31 days of cricket per year across three domestic tournaments, limiting a player’s earning potential to PKR 1,040,000 (approximately USD 3,700), assuming consistent selection.

The financial constraints pose challenges beyond just low pay. Expenses for fitness and professional training frequently surpass players’ earnings, with costs potentially reaching PKR 600,000 annually. Many compromise on vital aspects of their cricket development due to these financial limitations, impacting overall performance and fitness.

A broader perspective reveals a concerning disparity in investment and financial compensation compared to other cricketing nations. Cricket Australia, for example, despite revenue shares similar to the PCB, ensures its domestic players earn significantly more, with figures reaching USD 96,000 annually, even amid financial losses. In stark contrast, the PCB, while reporting a surplus, offers vastly lower earnings to its female players.

Even boards with lesser revenue shares, like New Zealand Cricket, provide superior financial packages to their women cricketers, emphasizing a global trend towards pay parity that Pakistan has yet to match.

Male cricketers in Pakistan can earn up to PKR 200,000 (approximately USD 715) per game in competitions like the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, with monthly retainers in various grades far surpassing those offered to their female counterparts. The disparity extends to game time, qualitative opportunities, and overall investment in women’s cricket.

Social barriers already complicate the journey for Pakistani women aspiring to cricket, compounded further by financial and infrastructural neglect. Challenges such as low pay, delayed payments, insufficient game time, and erratic changes in domestic structures underscore the plight of women’s cricket in Pakistan. Despite the nation’s cricket fervor and substantial revenue earnings, its women’s team remains lower-ranked globally, with minimal exposure to international T20 leagues.

This situation highlights an urgent need for reevaluation and equitable investment in women’s cricket to ensure sustainable growth and competitive parity on the global stage.

*Note: A previous report inaccurately stated the match fees for Pakistan’s women’s domestic players as PKR 25,000.*

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