Pakistani cricketers have signed the central contracts offered by their cricket board despite being apprehensive about some clauses.
"The players had conveyed they wanted the board to review some clauses like the ones dealing with penalties for interacting with the media (without prior clearance) or the ones dealing with players having their retainers deducted if they went to play in foreign leagues abroad," a source said.
He said the players were particularly apprehensive about the clause making it mandatory for a player and his agent to seek prior permission of the board before signing any contract with a foreign club or team.
"Under the new conditions a player will have his salary deducted for the period he goes to play in a foreign league," the source said.
The PCB has also introduced more stringent punishments for violations of the code of conduct which range from bans upto five years to fines upto Rs five million.
"The situation now is that after the recent ban and fine on seven senior players, most of the players are reluctant to lock horns with the board unlike in the past," the source said.
"There is no doubt the players are on the defensive after the recent disciplinary action taken by the board but they are also aware that the PCB has offered them more financial incentives in the contracts," another source said.
{{/usCountry}}"There is no doubt the players are on the defensive after the recent disciplinary action taken by the board but they are also aware that the PCB has offered them more financial incentives in the contracts," another source said.
{{/usCountry}}The board has awarded contracts to just 18 players divided in three categories and stipends to around 19 players but have raised match fees for the Twenty20 matches and also financial rewards for individual as well as team performances.