Monthly Central Contract for Women's Cricket Team Members Announced by PCB

Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that it would be awarding monthly central contracts to the members of the national women's team from next month.

The decision was made at the board of governors meeting held in Lahore on Thursday in which it was also decided to increase the pension amount of the former players as part of the welfare scheme.

The board meeting decided that in order to encourage and reward the women cricketers they would be given monthly central contracts from January 1 next year in line with the men's national team.

Although the amount was not disclosed but this is the first time that such a decision has been taken in Pakistan cricket.

"It is a decision to encourage the players after the victory of the women's team in the Guangzhou Asian Games where they beat Bangladesh in the final," one official said.

Pakistan captain Sana Mir said that the decision would encourage more and more girls to take up the sport professionally.

"It will lead to more professionalism in Pakistan women's cricket. It is a great step and it is a great incentive for us," Mir said.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said that he was extremely grateful to the board for approving increase in pension for former players who are above 60 years.

"Our players are our national assets and this decision by the board will send a positive message to all our former players that PCB values the services that they have given to Pakistan," Butt said.

In other decisions, the PCB also approved the audited accounts of the previous fiscal year and also appointed retd Justice Muhammad Sayeed Akhtar and retd Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chohan on the panel of independent arbitrators of the board.

The panel already includes retd Justice Irfan Qadir, retd Justice Jamshed Ali Shah and retd Justice Munir A Sheikh.