Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly rejected claims made by DAWN regarding the withdrawal of travel and daily allowances (TA/DA) for match officials in the upcoming President's Trophy Grade-II (Silver) tournament. The tournament is set to begin on September 19.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the DAWN report inaccurately depicts the board's policy, asserting that there is no plan to withhold TA/DA from the tournament's match officials. The board clarified that TA/DA is provided to officials required to travel outside their home cities, covering additional travel and food expenses for those deemed outstation officials.

The PCB has predominantly assigned Lahore-based umpires for matches in Lahore and surrounding areas for the President's Trophy Grade-II. Since these officials reside in the same city where they will perform their duties, they do not qualify as outstation officials and thus are not eligible for TA/DA as per the board's policy.

The board stressed that this is not a cost-cutting measure nor a policy change for the Grade-II tournament alone. The same criteria apply across all PCB domestic formats and regions, with outstation officials in other competitions receiving TA/DA.

The DAWN report suggests that Grade-II match officials would only receive their match fees and would have to cover travel and accommodation expenses themselves. However, the PCB clarified that TA/DA remains available to officials who are outstation personnel. Match fees and TA/DA are distinct components of officials' remuneration, with match fees covering match duties and TA/DA linked to additional expenses incurred for travel.

The PCB also explained that hotel accommodation is provided for outstation assignments, granting facilities and allowances to officials traveling from other cities under the current policy. Locally based officials do not receive hotel accommodations for matches in their home city.

Scheduled from September 19 to October 18, the President's Trophy Grade-II appointments and financial arrangements for match officials adhere to the board's domestic cricket policy. The board maintains that TA/DA has not been abolished or withdrawn for the tournament, with Lahore-based officials ineligible for outstation allowances, while traveling officials are covered under the PCB's policy.