The players will receive 25,000 Pakistani rupees, approximately £113, each from August to October
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a three-month support package for unemployed domestic cricketers who are without contracts for the 2020/21 season.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the PCB will help 25 female cricketers who featured in the 2019/20 national domestic season, are not contracted for the 2020/21 season, and currently have no job, contract or business. They will receive 25,000 Pakistani rupees, approximately £113, each from August to October.
Urooj Mumtaz, the former player and head of the PCB Women’s section, initially made the proposal to chairman Ehsan Mani.
Mumtaz said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a halt to all women cricketing activities worldwide. This has adversely affected our women cricketers, some of whom are the sole breadwinners of their families”
In June, the PCB announced a list of contracted female players, including nine centrally contracted cricketers and nine emerging players. Each received a 12-month deal starting on July 1, 2020.
With these two schemes in place, 43 out of the 48 players who featured in the 2019/20 season will be supported by the PCB, the remaining five already having employment elsewhere.
Mumtaz hopes that the PCB’s show of support “will go a long way in our endeavours to promote, develop and grow women’s cricket in Pakistan.”
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