Scorers left in the lurch as PCB delays payments

ISLAMABAD: A vital yet often overlooked pillar of cricket -- the scorers -- find themselves grappling with financial uncertainty as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues to delay their payments.

Despite their indispensable role in international and domestic matches, these professionals have been awaiting their dues since September 2024, alongside other promised benefits. ‘The News’ has received numerous calls from scorers affiliated with the PCB, highlighting their struggles due to the non-payment of fees from the last four domestic tournaments, including the prestigious Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

“We haven’t received a single rupee in match fees since September 2024, meaning four full domestic events remain unpaid. With Eid approaching, we desperately need our earnings to support our families and meet financial commitments,” one scorer lamented.

This frustration is shared across the board, with all scorers facing the same predicament. “We assume everything is functioning smoothly at the PCB, but this inordinate delay suggests otherwise. Not being paid for six months is akin to an employee being deprived of their salary -- an unbearable situation,” another scorer remarked.

Scorers play a crucial role in cricket, meticulously documenting every ball bowled, tracking on-field developments, and ensuring that official records and media updates remain precise and reliable. Yet, their dedication is met with disregard when it comes to financial matters.

Beyond the troubling delay in payments, another revelation has emerged -- one that raises serious questions about PCB’s payment structure. The PCB’s event-wise pay structure has exposed a baffling discrepancy. Scorers are paid less per day for international Test matches than for domestic first-class games. The figures are staggering: • Test match per-day fee: Rs8,000. • First-class domestic per-day fee: Rs8,400.

• International T20 match fee: Rs15,000.

“It’s absurd that a Test match -- arguably the pinnacle of cricket -- pays us less per day than a domestic first-class match. This is a clear injustice, and while the PCB had assured us of revising the structure, nothing has changed,” a scorer expressed.

Upon inquiry, a PCB official assured ‘The News’ that efforts were underway to clear the pending payments before Eid. “The matter is with the Finance Department, and we are trying to release the dues for the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and other tournaments soon,” the official stated.

As for the pay disparity in Test cricket, the official initially expressed surprise but later confirmed its accuracy. “If a Test match concludes in three days, the scorer still receives payment for five days, unlike in first-class cricket. However, the overall pay structure does appear uneven.”

While the PCB’s assurance offers a glimmer of hope, scorers remain skeptical, having heard similar promises before. With months of unpaid dues and an unfair pay structure, the PCB’s treatment of scorers raises serious concerns about their commitment to those who keep the sport’s records intact.

Will these custodians of cricket’s history finally receive their rightful dues? The ball is now in the PCB’s court.