Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has made a grand gesture to boost the morale of the Pakistan cricket team by offering a cash prize of $100,000 to each player should they clinch the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2024. The much-anticipated tournament is set to unfold next month in the West Indies and the USA.
This announcement came as Naqvi visited the team at Gaddafi Stadium, where the players were gearing up for the upcoming Ireland series. During his two-hour stay, he engaged with the team members, sharing insights and encouragement ahead of their international commitments. The visit concluded with a luncheon at a local hotel, attended by the players and cricket officials, as confirmed by a PCB spokesperson.
The national team is scheduled to depart for a series of T20 internationals against Ireland and England on May 7, after which they will head to New York for the World Cup. Naqvi, expressing his aspirations for the team, emphasized the significance of a World Cup victory over the monetary reward. “The cash prize is of no value when compared with a win in the World Cup,” he remarked, instilling a sense of patriotic pride and responsibility in the players.
In his speech, Naqvi highlighted the importance of unity and determination, urging the players to exhibit exemplary teamwork and resilience on the field. “Play for Pakistan, and success will be yours if you play as one unit. Give your best on the cricket pitch. Give a good fight to the opposition. Victory will be yours, and loss mine,” he encouraged.
The PCB chief also had a special moment with Shaheen Shah Afridi, expressing confidence in the fast bowler’s ability to perform at his best during the World Cup and meet the high expectations of the nation.
Additionally, Naqvi honored wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Naseem Shah with specially designed green shirts recognizing their remarkable achievements in T20I cricket. Rizwan recently surpassed 3000 runs, while Shah reached the milestone of 100 wickets in T20Is for Pakistan.
The event was attended by notable figures including national selectors Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Yousaf, team captain Babar Azam, head coach for the Ireland series Azhar Mahmood, and Usman Wahla, the director of international cricket.
Naqvi’s generous incentive aims not only to motivate the team but also to foster a sense of national pride and unity. As the Pakistan team prepares to take the global stage, they carry not just the hopes of their fans but also the potential for a substantial personal reward, setting the stage for what promises to be a passionate pursuit of the T20 World Cup title.
