shahid afridi, abdul razzaq, younis khan, umar akmal, fbr, afridi tax, pakistan cricket fbr

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By Pakistani standards, top cricketers earn handsome sums in annual central contracts, endorsements and match fees, with Afridi topping the list. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captains Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan were among four players hit with tax demands totalling more than three quarters of a million dollars on Friday, officials said.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said it had issued notices to Afridi, Younis, Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq for evading taxes of 80 million rupees ($825,000), ordering them to pay up within two weeks.

“Notices have been served to four players -- Afridi, Younis, Razzaq and Umar -- as they have not given taxes on their match fees, annual contracts and endorsement fees and they are asked to reply within the stipulated time,” said an FBR spokesman.

Test captain Misbah-ul Haq, Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz were all warned over tax evasion in June this year, the spokesman said, but refused to give further details.

Pakistan's tax revenues are among the lowest in the world at just 9.8 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2010-2011, according to the Asian Development Bank, and less than two percent of the population pays tax on their income.

By Pakistani standards, top cricketers earn handsome sums in annual central contracts, endorsements and match fees, with Afridi topping the list.

Younis, Afridi and Umar are all in category 'A' of the Pakistan Cricket Board's central contracts, earning 313,000 rupees ($3,200) in monthly salaries.

Top Pakistan players also get match fees of $4,000 a Test, $3,800 for a one-day and $2,900 for a Twenty20 international.


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Comments (13)

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi, Kuwait
November 3, 2012 3:11 pm
What a shame! Captain in cricket captains those who avoid paying taxes. How could they think of not paying tax when they earn very lucrative money. I am cricket lover bit cannot side with those cricketers who avoid paying taxes. They must be jailed and not just asked to pay taxes only. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
m h
November 3, 2012 1:43 pm
Nothing new there then! Will the tax authorities be pursuing politicians and publishing the names of those who owe tax? I doubt it
Hamid Hameed
November 3, 2012 9:10 am
Street smarts should be sent back to the streets.
Ashraf Bugti
November 3, 2012 7:57 am
Well SHAME ON ALL THE TOP POLITICIANS AND ESPECIALLY ON ZARDARI. They all pay no tax and are getting money from all sources. This life is good for you guys and but god willing next life will be hell.
Ashraf Bugti
November 3, 2012 7:56 am
It is shame on Afridi, Younus and Razzaq and other top cricketers to not to pay taxes!! SHAME ON YOU ALL... SO CALLED ROLE MODELS!! Especially Afridi with a beard!!
Abdul Aziz
November 3, 2012 6:48 am
There is a difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. Tax evasion is a crime and unethical. It's shame on Crickter's like Afridi & Younus to do tax evasion. There earned lot of money and also do charity but they are unwilling to pay Tax. I can't understand why people of Pakistan are reluctant to pay taxes however tax rates are not so high as in first world country.
Be an icon
November 3, 2012 5:57 am
Afridi,Younis should come ahead and pay their tax. They may also inspire others. It is really shocking what I found in Wikipedia. "The government is seriously indebted -- and only 1.9 million people in a country of 170 million filed tax returns at all in 2010. An estimated 10 million people are registered to pay taxes in Pakistan; the great majority don't pay a rupee. Some tax officials have resorted to employing transgendered people to "shame" delinquent tax evaders into settling bills."
Tez
November 3, 2012 4:01 am
We should look at comparisons of Pakistanis paid cricketers amongst all other countries! Our top paid player Afridi, will most likely still be the lowest paid players amongst any other cricketing nation in the world! Now they have to pay tax? yes I know, compare to the average Pakistanis they are earning an extremely good salaries, but in my opinion its still pathetic.
dan
November 3, 2012 2:13 am
what about the corrupt president and nawaz sharif. why not go after them. why just after the cricketers
Cyrus Howell
November 2, 2012 9:53 pm
They are special people.
Razzaq
November 2, 2012 8:06 pm
Afridi have spent the money on performing the pilgrimage recently.
Faisal Taquie
November 2, 2012 5:30 pm
I think it is good to highlight this but why target just cricketers? What is the tax paying rate of our politicians and top corporations? And by the way, where will this tax money be utilized: to pay for PM's helicopter?
Goga Nalaik
November 2, 2012 3:04 pm
Good work initiated by Dawn and finally action taken by the authorities! A tax avader cannot be my Hero.