Pakistan cricketers’ pensions increased by PKR100,000

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), today announced an increase of PKR100,000 across all three pension categories under the PCB Players’ Welfare Policy.

The increase means cricketers who have played in 10 or less Tests will now receive a monthly pension of PKR142,000, players who have played between 11 and 20 Tests will receive PKR148,000 and players who have featured in 21 or more Tests will receive PKR154,000.

PCB Players’ Welfare Policy revised. Major changes include:

• Former cricketers’ pensions increased by PKR100,000
• Transfer of pensions to widows in the unfortunate event of a player’s demise
• Annual inflationary increase in pensions

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— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) May 19, 2022

“It gives me immense pleasure and happiness to announce the increase in pension amounts and other amendments to the PCB Players’ Welfare Policy. With a former cricketer at the helm of Pakistan cricket affairs, the expectation was that I will always protect and look after the interests and welfare of all present and past cricketers. I am delighted that I have been able to fulfil another of my commitments and have amended the policy in such a way that there will now be an annual increase in the pension amounts," PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said in the statement released by PCB. 

“While improving the pension amounts, we have also ensured security for a cricketer’s widow. As a former cricketer, I know and understand the sacrifices of the families, particularly the spouses that allow cricketers to fulfil their ambitions and dreams of representing their country at the highest level. I am confident this incremental increase of the pension policy will give a lot of peace and satisfaction to the cricketers as well as their families," he added.

In a major amendment to the policy, the PCB also announced the pension will be transferred to the widow in the unfortunate event of a Test cricketer’s demise. Previously, the legal heirs of the cricketer were only entitled to receive a onetime payment equivalent to 12 months’ benefit calculated according to the bracket under which the pension was being paid to the cricketer.

The PCB Players’ Welfare Policy was last updated in January 2019. To ensure there were no future delays in the increase in the pension amounts, the PCB also confirmed there will be an annual inflation increase. The latest change in the Policy will come into effect from July 1 2022, and cricketers who have reached an age of 60 or above will benefit from it. 

(With inputs from PCB's press release)