LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday a three-month financial support package for the unemployed national women cricketers. The proposal was put forward by the women's wing, headed by Urooj Mumtaz, which was subsequently approved by PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani.

Under this scheme, 25 women cricketers will benefit and will receive a monthly stipend of Rs25,000 each from August to October. The 25 women cricketers were selected following a selection criterion, which included featuring in the 2019-20 national domestic season; are not contracted for the 2020-21 season; and are presently without a job, contract or business.

The decision to offer three-month financial support package to 25 women cricketers was taken after analyzing the present economic challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which have also affected cricket activities.

Urooj Mumtaz said, "The Covid-19 pandemic has brought all women cricketing activities to a halt worldwide. This has adversely affected our women cricketers, some of whom are the sole breadwinners of their families. As the women's game is making steady progress, it was imperative that the PCB came up with this scheme to not only protect and support our players but also to make them understand and realize that the PCB values them and will look after them in difficult times."

In an identical scheme to help the affected combat the present challenges, the PCB had in May offered a one-time support to 161 stakeholders, including former first-class male cricketers, match officials, scorers and curators.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020