Ex-ICC referee Ishtiaq calls for pension benefits policy for match officials

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Former international referee and first-class cricketer Ishtiaq Ahmed has demanded of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to frame a pension benefits policy for match officials also who are the people who need the Board’s support.

“I appreciate the recent decision which is taken by the honorable chairman PCB Ramiz Raja by increasing the pension of the retired cricketers but some of the former cricketers are still occupying key positions in the PCB and they are financially very sound,” Ishtiaq told this correspondent.

“The persons in need of such benefits being totally ignored. I request the honorable chairman PCB to also frame a pension benefits policy for match officials including umpires. referees and scores because they have rendered meritorious services for the PCB during their work period,” he said.

“They are in dire need of pension for themselves and their families. They should not be deprived of the benefits of pension,” said Ishtiaq, an ex PCB elite panel referee and ex-ICC referee for Asia and Africa region.