PCB should introduce cut on big guns salaries: Jalal

ISLAMABAD: As the fears of uncertainty looms over cricket world in wake of COVID-19 outbreak, former Teat cricketer Jalaluddin suggested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to slash administrative expenditures and introduce cut on the salaries of all those officials who are drawing more than Rs half a million per months till the time things get back to normal.

In an exclusive talk with The News, the first ever bowler to achieve a hat-trick in ODI cricket, Jalauddin said there was a dire need to introduce austerity measures in the PCB before it gets too late and the Board comes under financial pressure amid the COVID-19 fears. “With no income and no clue as to when the action will restart at cricket fields, the PCB needs to introduce austerity measures starting with cutting the administrative expenditures and introducing thirty to forty percent cut on the salaries of all those administrators, coaches and other officials who are withdrawing more than Rs five lakh per month. These measures should be there till the action restarts on the cricket field and things get back to normal.” Jalal said there were two basic reasons aiming at adopting such measures. “There is no activity whatsoever ever so obviously the PCB finances would come under pressure and secondly all big guns in the PCB including some leading coaches have nothing to do. They are sitting idle at home and are in no position to contribute. All those enjoying big perks should present themselves for these cuts till the time life and cricket gets back to normal. All other boards including the ECB is also considering these options. I am not talking about those who are drawing less than half a million rupees per month. Those drawing over half of million per month should present themselves for such a cut even before PCB takes such a decision.”

Jalal also called on the Board to look for all those first class cricketers who were going through torrid time under prevailing scenario and moreover help those 240 ground staff who were terminated in December last year. ”Look these cricketers served the game and the country, raising the status of Pakistan cricket to the level which is there today. Any first class cricketer facing hardship under the prevailing circumstances should be financially supported. Secondly those first class cricketer who were part the system till the last year and are now facing hardship should be preferred. Similarly 240 ground staff, terminated by PCB iN December should also be provided financial help. There is also need to respect former Test cricketers who have put in their share in making Pakistan as one of the best around. I have not seen such a treatment for leading Test cricketers during this cricketing season.”

Jalaluddin revealed that only six hundred cricketers around the country played recognised cricket this year against over 70 thousand who were part of the official system last year. “Club and departmental cricket are the worst hit areas. I don’t see any improvement in the numbers even during the coming years. The fall out of this very low cricket activity especially at grassroots level would emerge in a couple of years time when we would see no quality back up and a quality pool of young players.”

Jalaludding who himself is a qualified and recognized coach was critical of the prevailing coaching system in the country. “I was surprised and shocked at the selection of teams for first class cricket during the just concluded year. Those who named teams were unaware of cricketers’ potential and just haphazardly put in players name in one team or the other. Some of the cricketers who were named in Grade II teams when given opportunity in Grade I, left all others behind.”