Payments of domestic cricketers to be doubled soon: Wasim Khan.

KARACHI -- The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to double the amount being paid to domestic cricketers and will also offer separate central contracts for the top performers in domestic cricket, PCB CEO Wasim Khan said while giving details of the Board`s five-year plan in to Dawn News on Saturday.

`The World T20 seems unlikely this year and that will be a setback, both for the game and for us financially. As you are aware after the ICC events, member boards always get a handsome amount. But as of now we are working on a contingency plan asWorld T20 remain uncertain, said Wasim. `We are planning ahead for the `worst possible scenario` and are reducing our expenses and our budget.

However, we will not compromise on domestic and women`s cricket.

For our next domestic season we will double the amount for the players and also a category for domestic top performers will be introduced to encourage them.

As for the domestic cricket season, Wasim reiterated that PCB will adhere to the changes made last year with six regional teams set to compete.

`We are trying to make a long sustainable system so that in future we are able to perform well at the international level,` hesaid. `I know there was a criticism on domestic model last year but as cricket board, it is our duty to make right decisions for the betterment of cricket.

`Recently, we revamped our high performance center and brought professionals like Saglain Mushtaq and Nadeem Khan in it. Also, legendary Younis Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad also became a part of Pakistan team management for the England tour which is surely a boost. So we are trying our best to facilitate our players and our youngsters, emphasised Wasim.

`I want to say that departments can continue with cricl(et activities but we...