Players Association Of Pakistan - By Younis Khan

by Owais Ehsan on September 4, 2009

Its heartning to see Younis khan (current Pakistan Cricket Captain) , taking a lead on many things these days. Apart from planning construction of a cricket stadium in Mardan, Collecting funds for IDPS (along with Afridi) he has now taken initiative to launch Players Association of Pakistan. The association would provide a body which would be exclusively run by the cricket players themselves (both retired and current) and where they can raise issues which they could not directly raise with PCB. It would also look at the the welfare of the players. Overall a great initiative by Younis Khan , and we will bring you more details as soon as they are avialble .

Younis Khan aims to launch a players’ association in Pakistan and has already contacted the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA). The Pakistan captain met FICA chief Tim May in London during the T20 World Cup in June and “had sought details about the formation of players’ association.”Khan has discussed the issue with current and former players in Pakistan and plans to meet Pakistan Cricket Board officials.

“I want to work for the betterment of cricketers in Pakistan because there are several players who are in a lot of financial problems. I don’t want any confrontation with the PCB and we are not making a group against the board.we just want to gather the players for their own rights.”

Younis is expected to have another meeting with May during the Champions Trophy which begins from Sept. 22 in South Africa. Pakistan’s former Test captain Majid Khan formed a players association during the 1980s but it did not last long.

About FICA (Federation of International Cricketers Association):

The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) was established in 1998 to co-ordinate the activities of all national players’ associations which protect the interests of professional cricketers throughout the world. It brings together all of the world’s cricketers, regardless of nationality, religion, political persuasion or race, under an international body which will focus on matters of general interest to the game and its players.

Objectives:

The main objectives of the FICA organisation are:

To promote the establishment of professional cricketers’ associations in countries where none currently exist.
To develop communication between these associations across the world, encouraging contact between them so they speak with one voice on matters affecting cricket.
To ensure that individual associations are recognised by their domestic governing bodies and the ICC.
Through their local governing bodies, cricketers should have an input to all decisions affecting the professional game.
To protect the commercial interests of members of FICA.
To assist individual associations to raise finance to ensure the development of projects which benefit their members, present and past.