PCB responds to media reports

The Pakistan Cricket Board has issued the following statement / clarification in response to various media reports, published on Friday, 12 August 2022:

1-       The Daily Express, along with its cricket website, Cricket Pakistan, have reported new penalties for breaches have been incorporated in the 2022-23 central contracts.

This is factually incorrect. The Penalties for Breaches have been part of the Central Contracts since 2007. The only new addition to the 2022-23 Penalties for Breaches section is related to Covid-19.

Contrary to the claim that “Multiple clauses of heavy fines and bans are in the 2022/23 central contracts of men’s cricketers, some of which have been objected to by the senior players,” the PCB clarifies there was no discussion on this matter between the board and the players.

Unfortunately, the media outlet published the story without checking facts with the PCB and tried to give an impression that these had been incorporated for the first time in 2022-23 contracts.

2-      The Dawn newspaper reported Shan Masood “refused to be a part of the Pakistan Shaheens team which played a practice match against the national side before its tour to the Netherlands”.

The fact is that the Shaheens’ squad was announced a day after the national squad for the Netherlands and UAE tours was named. After missing out on selection on 3 August, Shan, with the consent of the PCB, had returned to Derbyshire to fulfil his contractual obligations with the English county. This was in line with the NOC, which the PCB had issued to Shan for the entire English county cricket season.

Unfortunately, a prestigious national daily sought no clarification from the PCB before printing the story that brought into disrepute the reputation of Shan Masood.