“We never got paid,” After PJL was scrapped, a U-19 cricketer claims players weren’t paid

The two-week tournament started on October 6 and played till October 21. It was a T20 league for Under-19 players from around the world.

“We never got paid,” After PJL was scrapped, a U-19 cricketer claims players weren’t paid

Ramiz Raja

On Saturday (December 31), Pakistan Junior League (PJL), which started this earlier this year, was scrapped by the board’s new management team led by Najam Sethi. Now, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) plans to revive the junior series on a home and away basis. The decision was announced through a press release by PCB.

However, “to ensure there is a pathway for the high-performing teenagers and the country continues to produce talented cricketers across all age gaps, it was agreed to revive junior series on a home and away basis.” A financial report also revealed that the tournament’s expenses were around PKR 997 million, but PCB’s income is only PKR 190 million out of it.

In the inaugural season, Bahawalpur Royals defeated Gwadar Sharks in the final to lift the cup. The two-week tournament started on October 6 and played till October 21. It was a T20 league for Under-19 players from around the world.

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Under-19 players weren’t paid in the PJL?

PJL
PJL

However, former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja wasn’t happy with the decision of discontinuing PJL. As the league was his brainchild, he took to Twitter to express his disappointment.

“All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in them,”- Magic Johnson. It is so sad that PJL has fallen to vendetta politics & rolled back even though 7 of the kids made it to PSL 8 emerging category & 3 are part of Pak vs NZ as reserves,” Ramiz Raja wrote.

When a Twitter user Haroon lauded PJL but questioned the PCB’s decision to pay a large sum of money to Under-19 players, Shamyl Hussain, who was part of the PJL said they never got paid.

“It was a great idea, but do you not think paying $22,000 to u19 kids is too much? I think PJL should still be played, but we can manage the costs better,” Haroon wrote. Replying to Haroon, Hussain said: “We never got paid haroon bhai (ending with three laughing emoticons).

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