Nineteen Pakistan women cricketers have been awarded 12-month central contracts for the first time as an acknowledgement that their game is now becoming professional. Last year the national women's team won the Asian Games Twenty20 title and last month they finished first in a four-nation tournament in Sri Lanka which included the hosts, Ireland and the Netherlands.
"It now requires full time commitment and professionalism and there is a need to compensate the players," Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said on Tuesday. Pakistan captain Sana Mir said the introduction of contracts would encourage more women to take up cricket.
"It is a great achievement for women cricketers in Pakistan because in recent years we have definitely shown improvement," she said. Mir said contracts would persuade more women to take up cricket. "The board is now also having regular domestic competitions for women players and that is only improving our standards," she said. The leading women will get a retainer of 50,000 rupees, about $600, compared to 250,000 rupees ($2,950) for the top men players. Pakistan women take part in a variety of sports but they have complained of a lack of encouragement and facilities in a socially conservative society.
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