Pakistani cricketers boycott Afro T20 Cricket League in Uganda due to pay dispute [Post#16]

[MenInG]

KAMPALA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Top cricket players from around the world are in Uganda to participate in the first ever Afro T20 Cricket League which runs Dec. 9- 23.

Former Pakistan star spinner Saeed Ajmal told Xinhua that he is happy to be in Uganda to be part of history being made. He will play for one of the eight franchise teams.

"I am happy to be in Uganda to share my cricket experience with everyone. I will give 100 percent in the tournament because I take the game seriously when I get on to the Oval," he added.

Grace Mutyagaba, Development Officer at the Uganda Cricket Association the tournament which has brought several cricket legends in the country will help promote the sport.

The tournament will see the winning team bag 50,000 U.S. dollars, the runners up 25,000 dollars and the third placed 10,000 dollars.

The tournament which will see Uganda's top 40 players taking part will also have foreign players from India, Kenya, Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates, West Indies and South Africa all divided in the different franchise teams.

Avniesh Bhardway, one of the organizers told Xinhua that after getting clearance from the World Cricket Board, they are optimistic the tournament will be successful and Uganda will benefit from hosting it.

The francise teams that have been named after wild animals in Africa include; Roaring Lions, Charging Leopards, Mighty Rhinos, Striking Panthers, Hippo Warriors, Raging Bulls, Royal Elephants and Rising.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/09/c_136813921.htm

 

[MenInG]

From PCB

“Afro T20 League is being played in Uganda in December 2017 which is approved by the Uganda Cricket Association and ICC. The league has requested a number of Pakistani players for participation. PCB has considered this matter and after noting that most of the requested players are currently not involved in Domestic Cricket, therefore they are being issued the necessary NOCs.”

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Hippo warriors

First I’m hearing of this league though.Any news on who the foreign players are?

 

[KyoOne]

Indians playing in Uganda league, but not in any other league except IPL?

Good going

 

[another drop catch]

charging leopards and what next Laughing Tigers lmao

 

[giri26]

Another meaningless league. I don't think we have enough days in the year to accommodate all these leagues.

 

[Abdullah719]

So according to media reports, the organisers of the league failed to pay the Pakistani cricketers in advance (as per the agreement); consequently the Pakistani cricketers there boycotted the league and are returning home and the league has been cancelled!!!

 

[Arham_PakFan]

So according to media reports, the organisers of the league failed to pay the Pakistani cricketers in advance (as per the agreement); consequently the Pakistani cricketers there boycotted the league and are returning home and the league has been cancelled!!!

Well that escalated quickly.

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[Pete Rose]

somewhat predictable

 

[MenInG]

Seems to be some confusion!


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alhumdulilah we are all safe and happy. Chilling in East Africa if any doubt go figure <a href="https://t.co/M0GcSvrUHG">pic.twitter.com/M0GcSvrUHG</a></p>— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) <a href="https://twitter.com/REALsaeedajmal/status/943742611365548032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[hadi123]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alhumdulilah We Are Fit And Fine in Uganda &#55357;&#56842;&#55357;&#56842; All the News Circulating is Totally Fake That we Are Trapped in East Africa &#55357;&#56842; <a href="https://t.co/F58pcCoWx7">pic.twitter.com/F58pcCoWx7</a></p>— Mukhtar Ahmed (@imMukhtarAhmed) <a href="https://twitter.com/imMukhtarAhmed/status/943791658218475520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[hadi123]

Pakistani cricketers are 'safe and happy' in Uganda despite reports claiming the cricketers are stranded, spin maestro Saeed Ajmal said in a video message shared with DawnNews.

Ajmal is part of a Pakistani contingent currently in the East African nation, where a Twenty20 league they were supposed to participate in was cancelled just a few matches into the tournament over a financial disagreement.

The cricketers, who include a mix of ex-internationals and active domestic players, including pacer Imran Khan and batsman Yasir Hameed, were promised half their pay in advance of the tournament.

But as the promise was not upheld even after several matches had taken place, the Pakistani cricketers refused to play any further, following which, the sponsors pulled out of the tournament, leading to the event's cancellation.

The problem arose when the cricketers on Wednesday attempted to board their return flights, only to be informed that their tickets — issued by the league's agents — had been blocked.

Despite the misfortune, Ajmal, confirmed to DawnNews that they are not at all stranded in Uganda and have money to spend as well as the support of the Uganda Cricket Association.

"We are all safe and happy. Chilling in East Africa," he tweeted along with a picture of the entire group, which seemed to be in great spirits.

The recently retired cricketer said that all cricketers were comfortable in their hotel rooms and expected to return to Pakistan on Thursday.

Ajmal was hopeful that the cricketers' dues would be cleared with the assistance of Uganda's local cricketing authorities and the International Cricket Council.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1378003/pakistani-cricketers-not-stranded-in-uganda-saeed-ajmal

 

[DRsohail]

Wahat are they doing there...yaar..

 

[navin]

Wahat are they doing there...yaar..

Trying to earn some bucks!

 

[MenInG]

Quotes from Saeed Ajmal video doing the rounds

"There are a few news items about our problems in Uganda"

"It is true that we didnt get money from Uganda Cricket League"

"It does not mean we are in a completely hopeless situation"

"It is not true that we dont have money for tickets or to eat a meal"

"Reason I am doing this video is that irresponsible people start news items about us"

"Without confirming they put this on the news and our families are worried back home"

"At least ask us for confirmation, instead you start running news items about us"

"We arent sitting in the Pakistan embassy, we are sitting in a hotel"

"We have come here to play and we are well known persons, its not like we have come out here without any money and are depending on the hosts"

"We asked Ugandan board to give us advance but they didnt give us money so we have boycotted the tournament" :

"When we were going back home after this but our airline seats were blocked but today we have got them reconfirmed"

"Inshallah we will reach Pakistan tomorrow"

 

[Varun]

Sure the Pakistani cricketers don't have access to the IPL, but all of them have certainly played for the national team at one point or another, as well as the PSL and the CPL.

What amount of desperation drives them to Uganda I wonder.

 

[WengerOut]

Sure the Pakistani cricketers don't have access to the IPL, but all of them have certainly played for the national team at one point or another, as well as the PSL and the CPL.

What amount of desperation drives them to Uganda I wonder.

From the photos above, I don't think those guys are fit to even jog let alone play cricket. They might as well earn some easy money. Next destination will be Casablanca premier league.

 

[Gubol123]

Sure the Pakistani cricketers don't have access to the IPL, but all of them have certainly played for the national team at one point or another, as well as the PSL and the CPL.

What amount of desperation drives them to Uganda I wonder.

I think if we all got together and organized a weekend gully league, half the Pakistan team will be ready to play

 

[Itachi]

Ajmal.... What a change of fortune..... Surprising.

 

[MenInG]

Press Release from the PCB

Lahore December 21, 2017: PCB received applications from players to participate in the Afro T20 League being played in Uganda. Upon inquiring of the bonafides of this League from ICC, we were advised by the ICC that Afro T20 League has been approved by them and that it is been played under the umbrella of Uganda Cricket Association (UCA). The ICC sent us a list of players which were provided to the ICC by the League organizors and asked us to allow them to take part in the tournament.

Upon receiving confirmation from ICC, PCB issued NOCs to all Pakistani players who were mentioned in the approved list.

PCB is currently looking into the incident which has taken place in Uganda during the Afro T20 League and once complete information is received, further course of action will be advised.

It may be mentioned that it is the responsibility of the players to negotiate the terms of their engagement and not that of the PCB whose role is confined to the issuance of NOCs on the condition that the players are not required for PCB duty at home or abroad.

 

[pakistani pride]

Saeed ajmal is really broke.
What did he do with all the money!?!?!?!?

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Hope at least the Uganda cricket board has paid the tickets of these cricketers.

A Business class ticket to Uganda cost around 2K USD, so the guys must have at least spent 3-4K for the trip each to Uganda, so if that is not covered it's a big hit - considered they were going to Uganda.

Poor guys. The PCB should take better care of their players.

 

[Gubol123]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alhumdulilah We Are Fit And Fine in Uganda ���� All the News Circulating is Totally Fake That we Are Trapped in East Africa �� <a href="https://t.co/F58pcCoWx7">pic.twitter.com/F58pcCoWx7</a></p>— Mukhtar Ahmed (@imMukhtarAhmed) <a href="https://twitter.com/imMukhtarAhmed/status/943791658218475520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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i hope none of them are current international players with any future.

 

[Abdullah719]

Payment dispute: Pak cricketers stuck in Uganda

In a bizarre incident, nearly 20 Pakistani cricketers including top names like Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Hameed and Imran Farhat have been left stranded in Uganda over a payment dispute with a T20 league organiser.

The players had gone to Kampala, Uganda to play in a T20 league after taking permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). But after landing in Kampala, they found out that the league has been abandoned after a dispute over payment issues.

After the first two days of the league were washed out, the Pakistani cricketers demanded 50 percent of their contractual fees as committed by the Uganda Cricket Association. But the organisers refused to disburse the money stating that the sponsor of the league has withdrawn.

"It was then that we were told payments could not be made since the main sponsor of the league had backed out and there was no money," one of the players told PTI from the east African nation.

"We wanted to leave immediately for home but on reaching the airport we were told that since the organisers had defaulted on other payments the travel agency, which had issued tickets, had blocked all seats and we had to return to the hotel," he said.

The player said that they had contacted the PCB and the Pakistan embassy and were now preparing to return home.

"Hopefully, we should be home by Saturday but it has been a bad experience for us. Instead of earning money, we had to spend out of our own pockets," he added.

The PCB said in a statement that it was investigating the matter.

"We had inquired about the bona fides of the league from the ICC. Only after we were advised by the ICC that the Afro T20 League has been approved by them and is being played under the umbrella of the Uganda Cricket Association, we issued NOCs to the players," the statement said.

The PCB said the ICC had even sent them a list of players provided by the organisers.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/649525/payment-dispute-pak-cricketers-stuck.html

 

[Savak]

Let this be a lesson to the players on the due diligence they need to do before signing up for every X, Y, Z league out there

 

[ahsan17]

Sure the Pakistani cricketers don't have access to the IPL, but all of them have certainly played for the national team at one point or another, as well as the PSL and the CPL.

What amount of desperation drives them to Uganda I wonder.

I think if we all got together and organized a weekend gully league, half the Pakistan team will be ready to play

There are only 2 recognized names here, one of whom is retired, the other who comes and goes in the team.

 

[WengerOut]

There are only 2 recognized names here, one of whom is retired, the other who comes and goes in the team.

Heard Hasan Ali gonna play in Hong Kong.

 

[MenInG]

Another Video message from Saeed Ajmal:

We were given an NOC and permission by the PCB and we were 22 players who went to Uganda to play cricket

But our participation in that league has been made target of such criticism as if we had committed a crime

We have all worked very hard to build respect for ourselves so please dont target it on small things

We have always played 'clean' cricket and have always kept Pakistan's interest ahead of anything else

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So this is how it's gone at Afro T20 Cricket League:<br>Players sign up<br>Pak players drop out as sponsors pull out<br>Players say they've not got plane tickets to return home<br>S Ajmal says everything is fine<br>Players say everything is not fine<br>S Ajmal says everything is not fine<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/944265477974577153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[Gabbar Singh]

Is Ajmal the official spokesman of this group?

 

[Gubol123]

Is Ajmal the official spokesman of this group?

may be he is the only one who has internet, or who could afford data on international roaming. or may be he has assumed the spokesperson role as he is the senior most..

 

[EliteCynical]

Seems to be some confusion!


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alhumdulilah we are all safe and happy. Chilling in East Africa if any doubt go figure <a href="https://t.co/M0GcSvrUHG">pic.twitter.com/M0GcSvrUHG</a></p>— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) <a href="https://twitter.com/REALsaeedajmal/status/943742611365548032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Pardon my ignorance, but apart from Ajmal, has any one of these players represented Pakistan? Unfortunately, i cannot recognize anyone. I can faintly recollect this Mukhtar Ahmed from a Sania Mirza- Shoaib Malik tweet dancing and celebrating something!

 

[Clubpenno]

Imran Khan Jr was one of our best bowlers for a period,bleak times mind you. He's still part of our test squad or on the fringes

 

[Abdullah719]

Pardon my ignorance, but apart from Ajmal, has any one of these players represented Pakistan? Unfortunately, i cannot recognize anyone. I can faintly recollect this Mukhtar Ahmed from a Sania Mirza- Shoaib Malik tweet dancing and celebrating something!

Saeed Ajmal, Imran Khan, Yasir Hameed, Mukhtar Ahmed, Shakeel Ansar and Hasan Raza.

Aamer Sohail is/was reportedly with the players too.

 

[EliteCynical]

Saeed Ajmal, Imran Khan, Yasir Hameed, Mukhtar Ahmed, Shakeel Ansar and Hasan Raza.

Aamer Sohail is/was reportedly with the players too.

Thanks. Now that you tell me, I can recognize Hameed, Raza and Imran Khan.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Pardon my ignorance, but apart from Ajmal, has any one of these players represented Pakistan? Unfortunately, i cannot recognize anyone. I can faintly recollect this Mukhtar Ahmed from a Sania Mirza- Shoaib Malik tweet dancing and celebrating something!

The guy whos taken the selfie-Imran Khan-played 8 tests for Pak(maybe more).

Mukhtar Ahmed,Shakeel Ansar,Yasir Hameed,Tariq Haroon are the ones I recognize.

 

[Gubol123]

did the poor guys return back? i hope PCB books their return ticket. PCB can later take it up with Uganda board and get it reimbursed