On Thursday, PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) announced that it would increase ex-cricketers pensions by PKR 100,000 under the PCB Players Welfare Policy.
According to the details, the PCB decided to increase pensions for ex-cricketers by PKR 100,000 in all three categories.
After that, cricketers who have attended 10 Tests or fewer will receive a monthly pension of PKR 142,000, players who have played between 11 and 20 Tests will receive PKR 148,000 and players who have attended 21 or more Proofs receive one monthly Receive pension of PKR142,000 receives PKR154,000.
In a significant change to the policy, the PCB also stated that in the tragic event of the death of a Test cricketer, the pension would go to the widow.
Previously, the cricketer’s legal heirs were only entitled to a lump sum payment of 12 months’ benefit calculated on the tranche in which the cricketer’s pension was paid.
PCB President Ramiz Raja shared his enthusiasm for the initiative and claimed to have ensured the safety of a cricketer’s widow and was pleased to have fulfilled one of his obligations.
He said, “I am very pleased to announce the increase in pension amounts and other changes to the PCB Player Welfare Policy. With a former cricketer at the helm of Pakistan’s cricket affairs, the expectation was that he would always protect and look after the interests and welfare of all current and former cricketers. I’m delighted to be able to deliver on another of my commitments and to have adjusted the policy so that pension levels are now increasing annually”.
“Not only have we improved pension levels, but we have also ensured the security of a cricketer’s widow. As a former cricketer, I know and understand the sacrifices made by families, particularly spouses, in enabling cricketers to achieve their ambitions and dreams of representing their country at the highest level. I am confident that this gradual increase in pension policy will bring much peace of mind and contentment to cricketers and their families.”
It should be noted that the latest changes to the PCB Policy on Players’ Welfare come into force on 1 July 2022, and cricketers who have reached the age of 60 can benefit from it.
