Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, met former Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz on Monday to resolve the outstanding matters over his unpaid ex gratia payments since January 2017.
According to a press release issued by the PCB, the meeting took place at the National Cricket Academy in the presence of former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez.
On this occasion, Ashraf assured Nawaz of unconditional support and also gave him a cheque to settle the payments under the Players’ Welfare Policy and.
“The ex gratia payments had been discontinued as a result of disciplinary proceedings initiated against Nawaz by the previous managements over the violation of Code of Conduct under the Players’ Welfare Policy,” the PCB stated.
“Nawaz has assured the PCB of his compliance to the Code of Conduct and the ex gratia payments to him under the Players’ Welfare Policy will be now be resumed,” it added.
Meanwhile, Ashraf said that he was “upset to see a former Test cricketer in such a condition” while also stating that “it was disturbing to see Nawaz being deprived of his rightful pension”.
“It is disappointing that the previous administrations have used the PCB’s coffers to settle personal scores,” he added.
“No cricketer should have to go through what Nawaz had to face, and I want to reassure every former and current cricketer, international or domestic, that the PCB considers them as its asset and will look after them at every stage of their life and in every possible way. They deserve to be loved and respected by their cricket board.”
Nawaz also thanked the PCB for supporting him at a difficult time considering his health condition.
“I have visited the National Cricket Academy after almost six years and received a warm welcome from the PCB officials. I am pleased that Ashraf has reinstated my pension. Given my health, I am particularly grateful for this step,” said Nawaz. “In a voluntary capacity, I offer honourary services to the board to enhance fast bowlers' skills for cricket's advancement.”
Nawaz featured in 55 Tests and 45 One-Day International for Pakistan from 1969 till 1984 during his illustrious cricket career.
The right-armer famously delivered a 33-ball spell in Melbourne on March 15, 1979, in which he took seven wickets for just one run. He went on to bowl his best bowling figures of nine for 86 in that innings which helped Pakistan to their second Test win in Australia.
The right-arm fast bowler took 177 Test wickets at 32.75 and dismissed 63 batters in ODIs at 23.22 runs apiece. He took 1,005 wickets at an average of 24.62 in first-class cricket.