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The Sharjah-based Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) has agreed to Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) demand of enhancing participation fee under a new contract expected to be signed in April next.

This was stated by PCB chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia while talking to Dawn on Monday. "Tentatively CBFS have agreed to our demand of making the Pakistan's participation fee comparable to India,".

Pakistan has been getting half the amount India was receiving. Sharjah Cup to be hosted in April will be the last tournament under the current contract. Without disclosing the amount the PCB chief said that under the new contract Pakistan would get paid equal amount to what India gets.

The PCB chief was unhappy with the on-going controversies generated by the the past and present players and claimed it was tarnishing the image of Pakistan cricket and urged them to shun their personal differences and get united and work for the game's promotion.

"Here, the cricketers are not united. One day you hear Sarfraz Nawaz critical of Ramiz Raja, the next day Raja goes to the court.

Then stories on Javed Miandad's row with Moin Khan and other players are published and so it continues," the general added. Commenting on the selection of New-Zealand bound team, the general said that Azhar Mahmood has been given preference over all rounder Yasir Arafat because of experience.

The doctors have cleared Azhar as fit and the selectors thought his experience will be vital at that level of cricket, he said.

Elections of Associations: The PCB has linked elections of various associations with the government's devolution plan which is being implemented in phases all over the country.

The PCB chairman expects revival of club cricket through the districts after the divisions are abolished under the restructuring of local bodies.

The revival of club cricket through the devolution plan and the PCB proposal of restricting the office-bearers to two-terms of two-years each was presented as an answer to end the on-going power tussle amongst numerous associations.

The last club scrutiny has revealed a total of 1997 cricket clubs functioning in the country. Commenting on the enforcement of new PCB constitution, Gen Zia said that although, almost ready, they will wait till the implementation of government's devolution plan.

The PCB boss said that the regions like Balochistan, interior Sindh, FATA and Northern Areas cannot compete at the national level owing to lack of facilities.

"The PCB is making concerted efforts to provide facilities to these neglected areas so that the youth there has equal opportunity to compete at the national level" he added.

© Dawn