Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has recently made a shocking revelation regarding the financial turmoil faced by Pakistani cricketers. According to Latif, these players have not received their dues for the past five months, which has caused a significant divide among the team members.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was quick to issue an official statement refuting these claims, but a recent report from a Pakistani media source suggests that the players are still disheartened by the board’s insufficient support over the last 15 days.
This unsettling situation arises from the reconsideration of the players’ central contracts. Initially, these contracts were negotiated after a prolonged standoff with the PCB. However, the players are now unhappy with the board’s failure to shield them from criticism and are disappointed by the board’s official statements, which seem to undermine their concerns.
Rashid Latif’s revelations have only added fuel to the fire within the cricketing fraternity. He disclosed that Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, has been desperately trying to reach out to PCB officials, including Chairman Zaka Ashraf, but his messages have gone unanswered. The frustration stems from the fact that these players have been deprived of their salaries for the past five months.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that the statement implies that any potential alteration in captaincy will be contemplated after the World Cup, which seems to undermine Babar’s leadership position.
“In the Pakistani media, many things are happening. Perhaps they are false news. I will provide you with the true news, which was kept on hold. Babar Azam has been trying to contact the chairman for the past two days, but they are not responding. He is messaging Salman Naseer (Chief Operating Officer), and he is messaging Usman Walha (Director of International Cricket),” Rashid Latif added.