PCB paid financial guarantee to Zimbabwe players for the home series

PCB paid financial guarantee to Zimbabwe players for the home series: Cricket successfully returned to the terror hit and war racked country, following Zimbabwe becoming the first full member team to tour Pakistan in six years. It is learned that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was so eager to make Zimbabwe play in Pakistan that they gave in a monetary guarantee of $12,500 to each Zimbabwe player before the recently concluded ODI and T20 series.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Initially the players were offered was $10,000 per player before the start of the tour. However, the Zimbabwean player felt this was too little, given the risk involved in playing in Pakistan. PCB was eager to resume cricket back in home turf, and decided to pay $12,500 which was accepted by the touring players.

The money is understood to have been paid in two amounts, the first on arrival and the second at the conclusion of the series, which could explain why Zimbabwe stayed on tour despite a suicide attack during their second ODI.

Though it was easier for Pakistan to negotiate such a deal with Zimbabwe, because that team’s players are paid a maximum monthly sum of US $6500 – and they are yet to receive the fees for the 2015 World Cup.

The Zimbabwean team’s experience in Pakistan was described by several players in favorable terms. Sikandar Raza tweeted that Zimbabwe were ‘welcomed with open arms, smiles and love,’ while Craig Ervine said he ‘loved the passion for cricket in Pakistan,’ and thanked the PCB for the ‘hospitality and security over this tour.’

It is learnt that PCB located 3500 security officials to maintain players’ safety, whose only movement in Lahore was between the hotel and the Gadaffi Stadium.