The build for Pakistan cricket team ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India hasn't been the nicest one as they had a poor outing at the Asia Cup 2023 finishing bottom in the points table at the Super Four stage and also losing out on their ace fast bowler Naseem Shah due to injury. There has been some controversy around the selection decisions of a few player too ahead of the squad announce for the mega event. It was also reported that Pakistan cricket team are yet to receive their visas and they had to cancel their team bonding session in Dubai. Now another report from sources gets added to the long list that the Pakistan cricketers are yet to receive any payment for PCB since the last four months and hence considering a boycott of sponsor promotion during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan Cricket Team Cancels Pre-ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trip to Dubai Due to Delay in Visas.

As sources suggest, negotiations between Pakistan cricket team players and the PCB for central contract has stalled and just days ahead of their departure for India, it is understood that the a significant numbers of players of the squad will enter the competition without being under a central contract.  For the past four months, cricketers have received no payments in terms of monthly retainers or match fees from the PCB.  The cricketers have taken the route of silent protest considering the financial challenges they have faced but now the aggravating dissent has made them consider the possibility of refusing to display sponsors' logos on their shirts.

On the condition of staying anonymous, a Pakistan cricketer said to cricketpakistan, "We are willing to represent Pakistan for free, but our question is why we should promote sponsors' logos that are affiliated with the board. Similarly, we may decline to participate in promotional activities and other events. During the World Cup, we won't engage in ICC's commercial promotions and activities either."  cricketpakistan's sources have also revealed the proposed contract structure offered an impressive monthly retainer fee of PKR 4.5 million to top cricketers across all three formats. However, players believe that after taxes and deductions, they would only receive around PKR 2.2 to 2.3 million, which is why they are pushing for further increases. Injury Forces Naseem Shah Out, Hasan Ali Makes Comeback As Pakistan Reveal ICC World Cup 2023 Squad.

Things doesn't end here. The Pakistan cricketers have now put their claim on the revenue share of the ICC received by the PCB.  On the contrary, PCB sources suggest that players' agents may be influencing their stance, and from the board's perspective, they are offering a fair deal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2023 06:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).