ISLAMABAD:Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) has asked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to raise its annual budget to Rs 19.2 million as to meet the games growing expenditures.
“PBCC’s current budget is Rs 17 million which has not been increased for many years,” PBCC Chairman Syed Sultan Shah told reporter on Thursday.
Sultan said that they wanted to raise the amount of the central contracts paid to the players and the staff salaries which has not been increased since five years.
“Currently, PBCC is paying Rs 12,000 to Category A players while Rs 10,000 to Category B and Rs 9,000 to Category C, respectively,” he said.
He said PBCC had written the letter to PCB for raise in annual budget in early June. “We have been in contact with the PCB Director Cricket Operations who has informed us that he has yet to receive the PCB budget which was passed on June 30,” he claimed.
Returning to the blind cricket affairs, Sultan said they were still awaiting for the only Blind Cricket Stadium (built in Lahore) to be handed over to them. “We have written letters to the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab government in this regard,” he said.
Sultan said the 90 percent construction work of the cricket stadium was completed but the field which was the most important thing is still in progress.
“It is the first-ever cricket stadium for the visually impaired players in the world, where the two times World Champs (Pakistan Blind Cricket Team) will do regular practice and play matches at their own will and ease,” he said.
Sultan, who was also the President World Blind Cricket ltd said the stadium was built considering the universal design that it is inherently accessible to people with visualimpairment.
“This stadium will also provide access to blind sportswomen, blind school kids and visually impaired youth in a conducive and safe environment. A blind cricket training and coaching academy will also commence there,” he said.
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