Cricket is surely a gentleman’s game as they say, but, definitely not for everyone. A vital yet overlooked pillar of cricket are – scorers.
And if we talk about Pakistan cricket, we have seen issues with players’ payment before but this time, the scorers have found themselves with financial uncertainty as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continue to delay their payments.
We all know scorers play an indispensable role in cricket but despite this their payments are still dues since September, 2024, alongside other promised benefits.
According to “The News”, they have received numerous calls from scorers affiliated with the PCB in this regard. According to the numerous scorers they haven’t received payment fees from the last four domestic tournaments, including the all-important Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.
In order to guarantee the correctness and dependability of official records and media updates, scorers are essential to cricket. They painstakingly document each delivery and monitor on-field activities. But in spite of their commitment and meticulousness, they frequently receive inadequate cash remuneration.
“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.
Beyond the troubling payment, there is another factor which is PCB’s payment structure. In contrast to domestic first-class matches, scorers in international Test matches are paid less per day, which is surprising. The figures show a startling discrepancy:
- The day price for an international test match is Rs8,000.
- The daily price for domestic first-class matches is Rs8,400, which is unexpectedly Rs400 more than that of Test matches.
- The cost of an international T20 match is Rs15,000.
“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.
“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.
A PCB official told “The News” that attempts were being made to settle the outstanding payments prior to Eid. The official said, “We are working to release the dues for the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and other tournaments soon. The matter is with the Finance Department.”
The official first voiced amazement at the salary gap in Test cricket but then acknowledged that it was true.
“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.”
Although the PCB’s pledge gives some hope, scorers are still dubious since they have heard similar claims in the past. The PCB’s handling of scorers raises major questions about their dedication to those who maintain the sport’s records, given months of unpaid dues and an unequal remuneration system.
Will the correct compensation be given to these stewards of cricket’s past? The ball is now in the PCB’s court.
