by Saj Sadiq

30th January, 2012

The tour of Sri Lanka scheduled for June has not yet been finalised by the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket but it's already causing a "headache" and "tension" for some of the Pakistani cricketers.

With eye catching performances from many of the Pakistan squad in the ongoing series against England, lucrative County deals are an increasing possibility, but English County teams are being put off signing the Pakistani contingent due to a possible fixture clash with Pakistan's likely tour of Sri Lanka and their signings being "missing" for the best part of a month.

Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi have already signed deals to feature in the Friends Life Twenty20 competition for Leicestershire and Hampshire respectively, the likes of Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Misbah ul Haq and several others are also being targeted by English County sides.

PakPassion has learnt that the Pakistani players are keen to feature in English County Cricket later this year particularly after being snubbed by the lucrative Indian Premier League and some of them only being available for a small segment of the Bangladesh Premier League.

A source close to several of the current Test squad in the UAE told PakPassion.net that the Pakistani cricketers "are very keen to play County Cricket after missing out on the riches on offer at the IPL and also the BPL. There has already been a lot of interest from County sides and offers are on the table. The boys are keen for the PCB to give them a chance to feature in English County Cricket and also for them to develop and improve their game."

Whilst the make up of the series in Sri Lanka has not been finalised, it is understood that the series is being organised to assist the Sri Lankan Cricket Board in overcoming some of it's crippling financial problems. Pakistan have always been a big draw in Sri Lanka and a short tour of mainly One Day Internationals and Twenty20 fixtures will ease the burden on Sri Lankan cricket, a burden that has become so heavy that recently they were unable to pay their cricketers their basic salaries.

The PCB and SLC have enjoyed very good relations over the years and the PCB will be keen to assist their Asian neighbours, but the Pakistani cricketers aren't as keen as their Board to fulfil this tour.

The matter is due to come to a head with a scheduled meeting between senior players and the Chairman of the PCB Mr Zaka Ashraf, with the players keen to put their case forward to the new Chairman who has shown a keen willingness to listen to player's gripes.

The players despite upcoming basic salary increases to their contracts handed to them by the PCB are keen to express their willingness to play County Cricket this summer especially having missed out on the various international Twenty20 tournaments, due to international commitments and political issues.

The Pakistani cricketers may be keen to express their preference for County Cricket, but the PCB has the upper hand when it comes to the centrally contracted players.

The situation remains a delicate one whilst an amicable solution will be hoped for by all.