Abdul Razzaq, the former all-rounder of the Pakistan cricket team, recently provided insights into the income earned by veteran cricketers during his playing days.
During a podcast interview, Razzaq was asked about the difference in earnings between playing in leagues and representing the national team. He revealed that he actually earned more from playing for Pakistan.
When questioned about the remuneration of national team players, Razzaq explained that when he made his debut in 1996, there were frequent One Day International (ODI) matches. However, in 1999, players received a mere Rs10,000 per match.
He then mentioned that the amount was significantly increased to Rs250,000 in the year 2000. Drawing a comparison to first-class cricket in India, he highlighted that Indian players were earning around Rs100,000 to Rs150,000 per match during that time, while Pakistani players received only Rs10,000 for international matches.
Recalling those days, the 43-year-old former all-rounder stated that the team played an average of 30 to 35 ODIs and 9 to 10 Test matches per year, with their earnings solely coming from representing Pakistan. He also emphasized the respect they received as players.
Razzaq further noted that prior to 2001, there was no central contract system in place. However, they enjoyed playing cricket and had a decent average income. By the time he retired from international cricket in 2013, players were earning around Rs500,000 to Rs600,000 for ODIs, Rs1 million for Test matches, and Rs300,000 to Rs350,000 for T20 games. He added that since then, these amounts have doubled or even tripled.
The former cricketer acknowledged that he had good sponsorship deals and advertisements during his playing career, which contributed to his overall income.
Currently involved in coaching, Razzaq represented Pakistan in 32 T20Is, 265 ODIs, and 46 Test matches throughout his career. Notably, he was part of the national team that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009.
