PCB restores Sarfaraz Nawaz’s pension after six years

Sarfaraz Nawaz and Zaka Ashraf. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) recently came forward to announce that they will be restoring the long pending pension of former Pakistan cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz. The 74-year-old has had all his payments suspended since January 2017 due to his defamatory statements against former chairman Najam Sethi.

The pension payments were discontinued by the PCB as a result of disciplining him, which was initiated by the previous board members, as he had violated the code of conduct under the Players’ Welfare Policy. However, in good news for the former Pakistan cricketer, the PCB continued his payments after he met with PCB chief Zaka Ashraf on Tuesday, August 8 in order to settle his outstanding payments.

In his meeting, Nawaz’s outstanding payments were settled after he assured the PCB of his compliance with the code of conduct. After the meeting, Ashraf handed the 74-year-old a cheque for his outstanding payments in the presence of the head of the technical committee Misbah-ul-Haq, and member Mohammad Hafeez.

No cricketer should have to go through what Nawaz had to face: Ashraf

Furthermore, Zaka Ashraf came forward to opine that he decided to have the meeting with Nawaz after getting to know about his health situation, as he had a health scare in London in 2022, and the PCB chief was of the opinion that a former Pakistan cricketer being in poor condition upset him and even stated that him getting his pension was his right.

“It is disappointing that the previous administrations have used the PCB’s coffers to settle personal scores; no cricketer should have to go through what Nawaz had to face, and I want to reassure every former and current cricketer—international or domestic—that the PCB considers them as its assets and will look after them at every stage of their life, and in every possible way. They deserve to be loved and respected by their cricket board,” Zaka Ashraf was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Najam Sethi had filed a libel suit against Sarfaraz Nawaz for his comments against him. However, Nawaz had already appealed to end the matter a few months ago and opined that he was happy that Zaka Ashraf had reinstated his pension.