The month of Ramazan is approaching fast and, apart from its religious significance, the arrival of the holy month turns Karachi into a hub of cricket activities as players from all around the country converge in the metropolis to earn some extra bucks besides celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr in a befitting manner.

It is, indeed, quite tough to play cricket in the holy month, particularly during the summer season when heat and humidity takes its toll on those who fast regularly. The cricketers, however, take pains of battling it out on hot afternoons and in the night in pursuit of money which keeps them motivated.

But while these participating cricketers are the real heroes of Ramazan cricket, they receive peanuts in earnings compared to the huge income of some of the leading organisers of cricket tournaments during the holy month. In other words, these organisers often exploit the players in Ramazan cricket tournaments to make a packet for themselves.

This year again, these organisers are rubbing their hands in anticipation, hoping to make a lot of money in these tournaments. Making money is not a sin but ethics should never be compromised as has been the practice with the Ramazan cricket organisers. These tournaments, which are telecast live, bring hefty sums from sponsors with rupees ten million considered as a minimum. But the sole beneficiary of that are the organisers while the players are conveniently sidelined. In the rest of the cricketing world, the organisers pay the players handsomely which is a standard practice. Even the first-class players have improved their lifestyles abroad but this has not been the case here in Pakistan.

Now it is time to pay back the players in Pakistan as well.

Rashid Latif has raised his voice on this issue on several occasions in the past, having organised a historic tournament a few years ago exclusively for the clubs in which a record prize money of rupees ten million was presented to the winners.

Similarly, a Champions League was organised by the local government a few years back which offered US$20,000 in prize money. The outstation teams were provided accommodation in five-star hotels free of charge and the players received handsome amounts for participation. Such tournaments promote the game and give incentives to teams and players in the real sense of the word.

The ‘Big Three’ organisers of the Ramazan cricket are minting huge money in shape of entry fee, sponsorship, cricket donations, etc. Ironically, even 10% of that income is not shared with the teams or the players.

Everybody knows that the cricketing event which feature a number of leading players has the highest billing. However, I am surprised that the teams which bring top players to the event also end up paying huge amounts of entry fee for participation instead of the organisers dishing out participation money to them. That is simply ridiculous.

I wonder why the team managements of such top ranked teams do not asking the organisers to pay up appearance money. Are they foolish or ignorant of their own rights? The top management of teams must ask this question and their respective sports departments should take up this issue directly with the organisers. These are awareness times and the players should wake up and fight for their rights and their dues.

Let me quote the example of the Champions League T20 Tournament that is organised by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) for several years now. Every team in this event receives appearance money from the organisers. When Pakistan’s Sialkot Stallions participated in the Champions League, their players received a purse of five million each because the league itself was making crores. That is the professional way of going about things, sans any exploitation.

All the Ramazan tournaments are now being approved by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and it is essential that the Board looks into the financial matters and advise the oganisers to disburse money appropriately among all parties concerned. The players should get maximum benefit out of the events because they are the ones providing all the action in the middle.

The PCB must review its policy to solicit support to the players and protect their rights and benefits. Every year they should declare ex-cricketers as beneficiaries and make them responsible for raising the standard of the game from the grassroots level by organising development programmes which could be monitored by the Board’s regional staff.

I am confident that a prompt and positive action from the PCB in this regard will help our cricketers get their due share of money and recognition.

The writer is a former Test cricketer and qualified coach.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2015

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