The contrasting post-retirement benefits of Shahid Afridi and Vinod Kambli shed light on a significant disparity in how the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) support their retired players.
While the BCCI boasts the title of the wealthiest cricket board, Afridi, the former Pakistan captain, enjoys a monthly pension of 154,000 Pakistani rupees (around 47,000 Indian rupees). In contrast, Kambli, a prominent figure in Indian cricket during the 1990s, receives just 30,000 rupees from the BCCI.
This difference is not merely about the figures; it underscores the contrasting approaches of the two boards towards their veteran players. While the PCB offers better post-retirement security for its players, particularly those with extensive careers like Afridi, the BCCI’s support for its retired stars, despite its financial dominance, appears considerably less generous.
Reports also highlight Kambli’s ongoing financial struggles, with a viral video showing him in distress. Despite appeals for help, neither the BCCI nor the Indian government responded, further highlighting the contrasting treatment of retired cricketers in the two countries. This situation exposes the varying levels of care and responsibility that cricket boards take for their players after they hang up their boots.
