Afghanistan Cricket Board to cut salaries of coaching staff by 25%

Cricket boards of different countries have suffered huge losses after international tours came down to a tragic halt amid COVID-19 pandemic. It is becoming quite difficult for the associations to maintain their pace on financial grounds. Meanwhile, there is a news that the Afghanistan Cricket Board has decided to cut down salaries of their support staff including their head coach Lance Klausner by 25%.

Coronavirus has brought the daily life of the people to a standstill. Moreover, it has left an adverse effect on cricket and its associations. The governments have enforced lockdown in their respective countries and this is the reason behind the postponement of all the major cricketing events and tours. And, the cricket boards have to suffer a big financial hit due to the same.

ACB chief opens up on the financial situation of their cricket board

Lutfullah Stanikzai, ACB chief executive said that cutting down the salary of the support staff is a part of their cost-saving strategy. He added that the board has decided to slash the salary of coaches by 25% for the month of May. As per him, this cut can be increased if they are not able to resume international cricket. He recited that the ACB wants to keep their coaches until their financial situation allows them. If this situation continues for long then they might have to take some strict decisions in the future.

“This is part of our cost-saving strategy as we have been also impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. We have decided to cut 25 per cent (of the salary for the coaches) for May, 50 per cent for June if we are not able to resume international cricket. We will try and keep them for as long as our financial situation allows,” Stanikzai said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Along with Lance Klausner, batting coach H D Ackermann and assistant coach Nawroj Mangal are the other members, who had to face a pay cut of 25%. Moreover, there are reports that ACB might review their salary structure if the 5-match T20I series against Zimbabwe gets postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, they have paid the salaries of all the centrally contracted players for the first quarter of 2020.