As we near the World Cup, announcements have started that promise players the world and a galaxy nearby if they bring home the trophy. Kicking off the announcement season are Bangladesh and Pakistan. But there is a difference. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a prize for winning the cup while the Bangladesh board has announced cash prizes for winning a match.

While the announcements may make the Pakistan team hard-done when the compare it with the Bangladesh deal, it cannot be helped. Bangladesh players will get $2,000 each for winning one match (best chance versus Bermuda) in the first round. If they make it to the next round, the will get $3,000 each. It is not clear whether this is over and above the $2,000 or it is the addition of just $1,000!

By you must be wondering why Pakistan should feel bad. Here’s why: They will get any money (bonus money) only if they make the semi-final. That means they need to win almost eight matches to stake a claim to that money. So what if the amount is ten times of what Bangladesh are supposed to get for a match? It’s just too unfair.

There is further ambiguity in the PCB announcement. While they have clearly mentioned $20,000 per player for making the semi-final, the bonus for winning the Cup has been announced at $1.2 million. And then there is a part which says Rs 50,00,000 per player. Now is this with the view in mind that the exchange rate may fluctuate and the PCB will make the most of whichever suits them? Not fair. Plus, what about taxes? Okay, let’s not go there!

But here is the real reason why the PCB has announced the bonuses. Umpire Daryll Hair announced that he would not be suing them for racial discrimination. This immediately meant that funds earmarked for the case that they may have potentially lost (please read carefully: potentially. It is 50-50 at the start, no?) are now available and in a moment of absolute magnanimity, they decided to share it with the players.

Sure enough, other boards are bound to follow and one will keenly follow the numbers the BCCI throws up. After all, it is the richest cricket board and it needs to keep up its image.