Sami Aslam issues warning to PCB apropos impending exodus of Pakistan players to USA due to insecure future

Test cricketer Sami Aslam has criticised Pakistan's domestic structure and also warned the governing body that if it doesn’t pull up its socks, many cricketers may leave the country in order to pursue a secure future in the United States of America (USA). Aslam notably, is the first of his kind, to leave the nation and join the USA as he will also feature for Texas Super Kings in the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket.

Talking about his decision, the opener mentioned that he is very satisfied and even disclosed that some of the current cricketers playing in Pakistan's domestic circuit have expressed their desire to switch as well since the Pakistan Cricket Board has not done much to protect them financially.

He added saying that players playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) feel secure but PCB hasn’t focused much on players sweating it out in four-day or five-day cricket.

“Those cricketers who play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) are the only ones who consider themselves secured. I would call it a failure of Pakistan cricket because the ones playing four-day matches do not consider themselves secured at all, and you also know that those who play the entire domestic match don't receive anything significant from it in terms of remuneration,” Aslam was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

“Those who only play in the PSL consider themselves secure, but even the top cricketers who have played for Pakistan also want to move,” he revealed.

Citing an example, Aslam mentioned that 20-30 domestic players recently played in the Unity Cup in the USA and earned a salary equivalent to four months (of what they would earn in Pakistan) in just one week. Thus, he believes that many of the players will be tempted to move if PCB doesn’t pay heed.

“Now what's happening is that a significant number of cricketers, around 20 to 30 current domestic players from Pakistan, have recently participated in a tournament held in Washington DC called the Unity Cup. It's a one-week tournament, and within that week, a player can earn as much money as they would earn in the four-month season of playing four-day matches,” the 27-year-old said.