Test cricketer, Sami Aslam, who chose to pursue his cricket career in the United States, has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about a potential exodus of players to the USA.
In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Aslam expressed his satisfaction with his decision to leave Pakistan, citing a sense of neglect within the domestic cricket setup as the reason for his departure.
Aslam criticized the PCB for the lack of recognition and financial security given to players participating in four-day matches, emphasizing that only those involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) feel secure in their positions.
“Those cricketers who play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) are the only ones who consider themselves secured. I would call it a failure of Pakistan cricket because the ones playing four-day matches do not consider themselves secured at all, and you also know that those who play the entire domestic match don’t receive anything significant from it in terms of remuneration,” Aslam said.
Moreover, Aslam disclosed that even established players who have represented Pakistan internationally have expressed a desire to move to the United States.
“Those who only play in the PSL consider themselves secure, but even the top cricketers who have played for Pakistan also want to move,” he revealed.
As evidence of this trend, Aslam pointed out the recent Unity Cup tournament held in Washington DC, in which a considerable number of Pakistani cricketers, including around 20 to 30 current domestic players, participated.
“Now what’s happening is that a significant number of cricketers, around 20 to 30 current domestic players from Pakistan, have recently participated in a tournament held in Washington DC called the Unity Cup. It’s a one-week tournament, and within that week, a player can earn as much money as they would earn in the four-month season of playing four-day matches,” he concluded.
Aslam will be feature in the upcoming inaugural edition of Major League Cricket and will be representing Texas Super Kings, which is owned by the owner of the famous IPL franchise, ‘Chennai Super Kings’.