KARACHI  - Busy celebrating the ODI series win against arch-foes India, Pakistani cricketers are hoping that the triumph would enhance their chances of getting a handsome pay raise this year.
A source said that the national selectors met in Lahore on Thursday and handed over a preliminary list of candidates who should be considered for the new central contracts and retainers in 2013. "The selectors also held deliberations on the forthcoming tour to South Africa," the source said.
He said Pakistani players, after reaching the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 Championships in Sri Lanka and beating India in India, were very hopeful that they would get a pay raise from the Board. "The players have already conveyed their feelings to the PCB chairman recently in India that the pay raise given to them in the last central contracts was not enough as it came after three years," the source said.
He pointed out that when the last central contracts were given, some of the senior players had refused to sign them as they felt the raise of 25 per cent in the monthly retainers and 10 per cent increase in match fees was not enough but had to back down after a stern stance taken by the board. "But this time they are hopeful again since the chairman is also happy with their performances in India which is always a big tour for Pakistan," the source said.
The source said the board would soon form a special committee to go through the list provided by the selectors and then determine new categories and the pay raise. Last year the board gave out central contracts to the players in May after a long delay.