Pakistan news

PCB award Asia Cup winners

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced cash awards for the players and support staff who were part of their successful Asia Cup campaign in Bangladesh in March. The board will award the players 400,000 Pakistan rupees (US$4300 approx) each, while the support staff will get Rs 200,000 apiece.

Pakistan's Asia Cup victory came at the end of a very successful season for them, in which they drew a Test series in the West Indies and won the ODIs there, beat Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on away tours, overpowered Sri Lanka in Tests and ODIs in the UAE and then whitewashed England 3-0 in the Tests in the UAE. The only glitch for them was the 4-0 ODI series loss to England in February.

At the felicitation function, the PCB also announced an increase of 25% in the retainer for centrally contracted players, and an increase of 10% in match fees. Forty-two players, who will be named on Saturday, will receive contracts this year. The last batch of contracts, which were given to 37 players, had expired on December 31, 2011.