West Indies Cricket Board offers players major pay hikes to tour Pakistan next month

According to recent reports, Cricket West Indies(CWI) have offered their players US$25,000 per match to play a three-match T20 series in Pakistan next month. The matches are scheduled to be played on 1st, 2nd and 3rd of April in Karachi.

CWI have contacted players who come under their central contract system and those who don't come under it as well. The catch here, however, is that the additional incentive which CWI has promised their players will be provided to them by PCB as the series does not come under the Future Tours Programme(FTP) system.

Under this agreement, West Indian players will be paid up to double their regular salary depending upon their contract status.

"Pakistan are looking to play more cricket at home, by playing half of the PSL in Pakistan next year and a number of matches in upcoming bilateral series under the current FTP," CWI CEO Johnny Grave said.

"However what they can't continue to do is pay international players additional fees to tour Pakistan or PSL.

"So, considering this tour is outside the Future Tours Programme, the PCB have made a payment to CWI that is being fully utilised. CWI isn't making any money from the series, just supporting cricket going back to Pakistan."

CWI CEO Grave also revealed that Pakistan will be playing T20 matches in USA or Canada to help the sport grow in North America as a part of the agreement.

"As a trade-off for this, we have their agreement to play regular T20 games in USA or Canada outside of the FTP to try and build interest in cricket in our timezone. We [CWI] have been very up front with players and told them all money we are getting for this series they will be getting."

The Pakistan Cricket Board is doing everything to ensure that cricket makes a full-fledged return to the country. Previously, the board had offered each player, who came down to Lahore to feature in the PSL final last year, extra money. Moreover, they paid US$12,500 each to Zimbabwe players who toured Pakistan in 2015 as well.

Even the World XI players, who toured the nation last year, were paid extra by the PCB.

West Indies' team for the Pakistan tour will be announced after the World Cup Qualifiers.