The rise of cricket agents in sport

“Look, if you want to get into the national team quickly, sign with this company.”
“Look, if you want to make a comeback, let this company represent you.”

When a young cricketer receives such an offer from a former captain with a solid reputation, how can he refuse? Especially when he sees multiple examples of other players benefiting from similar arrangements, saying no becomes nearly impossible.

This is not limited to just one company—others have done the same in the past. A few years ago, cricket agents were unheard of in Pakistan. But as money flooded into cricket, Pakistani players, inspired by their international counterparts, became eager to maximize their earnings in a short time. Agents capitalized on this by offering lucrative league contracts, sponsorship deals, and other financial incentives. Some even started by gifting expensive mobile phones.

Interestingly, some agents have a sharper eye for talent than Pakistani coaches. They spot young cricketers early and secure their loyalty before they become stars. Even after achieving fame, these players remain attached to their agents. Many current cricketers are prime examples of this system.

If you ask me why Babar Azam’s career has declined, I would attribute one reason to the central contract dispute, where Babar and a few senior players put immense pressure on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Just before the ODI World Cup, the situation escalated to the point where players threatened to boycott official promotional activities in India if they didn’t receive a share of the ICC’s revenue. Everyone knew who was pulling the strings behind the scenes. If you analyze Babar’s career post-dispute, you’ll see a significant drop in his performance. PCB eventually caved to the players’ demands, but since then, the team’s overall performance has suffered—many heroes have turned into zeros.

Earning money is everyone’s right, but when players prioritize financial deals over their actual performance, problems arise. Former PCB chairmen like Ehsan Mani, Zaka Ashraf, Najam Sethi, and the late Shahryar Khan were well aware that the increasing influence of agents was weakening Pakistan cricket. They took steps to control this influence, but each time one agent was pushed aside, another—often even more powerful—took their place.

The 2010 spot-fixing scandal involving Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Asif remains a black mark on Pakistan cricket. This controversy also originated from an agent—Mazhar Majeed. What started with a jacket ended with prison sentences. Shockingly, some of the individuals who disgraced the country are still active in cricket today.

Previously, Saya Corporation dominated Pakistan cricket, with players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi among its clients. However, when I broke the story that then-chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, his brother, Saya Corporation head Talha Rehmani, and Rizwan were directors of a UK-based company, Yazo International, Inzamam faced allegations of a conflict of interest and had to resign.

Now, another controversy has emerged. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has suspended Mughees Ahmed Sheikh, head of International Cricket Agency (ICA), for violating its anti-corruption code. If you read my report on this, you’ll realize that most of Pakistan’s current cricketers are linked to this agency. Even Pakistan’s head coach and chief selector, Aqib Javed, is represented by ICA.

While it’s likely that recent young players have earned their spots based on talent, the fact that ICA represents them raises questions. PCB must investigate whether some officials are engaged in conflicts of interest. If anyone is found guilty, they should be removed from their position.

The core issue is that the PCB has never taken the agent problem seriously. Yesterday, Saya was dominant; today, it’s ICA; tomorrow, another company will rise. However, unlike ICA, any Saya official has never been linked to a corruption scandal. In fact, it has even raised concerns about surrogate advertising in cricket.

During Zaka Ashraf’s tenure, there was an attempt to set a limit on how many top players each agency could represent, but this policy was never enforced. This lack of regulation continues to create problems. PCB must now develop a clear policy on player representation.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is working hard to improve Pakistan cricket, and he must also address this issue. Former cricketers associated with such agencies should not be allowed to hold PCB positions. Otherwise, just as one former captain is accused of directing players towards ICA, someone else might do the same with another agency in the future.

PCB must conduct strict background checks before allowing any agency to work with its players and should closely monitor their activities. When controversies arise, it is Pakistan’s reputation that suffers.

When one company dominates player representation, the balance of power is disturbed. Young cricketers may start believing that joining a particular agency guarantees a fast-track entry into international cricket. One of Pakistan’s current “superstars” has long been accused of favoring only a select group of players. Steps must be taken to prevent such situations in the future.

Mohsin Naqvi has made significant improvements in various areas of Pakistan cricket. If he takes action on this issue as well, it will only benefit Pakistan cricket in the long run.