Mushtaq Ahmed's PCB contract put on hold over 'fee dispute'

An impending Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) contract to former Pakistani Test legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed has reportedly been put on hold due to the disparity over fees paid to national coaches by the board.

Ironically, the PCB is presently in the process of finalising new central contracts for the national team players who have also demanded a pay hike that should be comparable to central contract fees paid out to players in other countries, especially India.

According to The Nation, a source said that although Ahmed has been offered the position of bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy but he is not satisfied with the monthly salary being offered to him, which is around 300,000 rupees, adding that he has asked for a better salary package, which is around 500,000 rupees.

The source further said that Mushtaq, who has worked with the English team as spin consultant and coach, also believes that the PCB should pay a better salary to local coaches who work with the national team if they are willing to pay 'foreigner' Dav Whatmore around 1.6 million rupees a month to work as head coach.

Financial issues had also led to former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq rejecting a coaching assignment from the board to work as batting consultant with the national team, the report added.