PCB not to encourage county cricket for players

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to encourage its players to sign county contracts.

Lahore, Dec 19 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to encourage its players to sign county contracts.

The Board had recently stopped pacer Rao Iftikhar from accepting a contract offered by an English county for 2008.

A PCB officer said that national cricket should get priority over and above a county for contract from any Pakistani player.

"We know some of our players are in demand in English cricket. Although we have not finalised any policy as yet, we are clear that the first and foremost national duty and requirements will take precedence over everything else," said the PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi.

"When players approached the Board for permission, it said they give permission only after seeking guarantees that the player is not overburdened with workload," he added.

Naghmi further stated that the reason behind the Board was improving the financial incentives for players in the domestic matches were to discourage its players from signing long-term league and county contracts.

Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria already has a two-year contract with Essex while Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul have been made fresh offers.

ANI