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Former Australian international star James Faulkner has sensationally walked out on Pakistan Super League franchise Quetta Gladiators amid a pay dispute that has quickly escalated into a social media firestorm.
Faulkner, who was named Player of the Match in the 2015 ODI World Cup final and earned a reputation as one of Australia’s best ever white-ball all-rounders, posted to Twitter on Saturday evening (AEDT), claiming that the tournament and the Pakistan Cricket Board have failed to meet his contract.
“I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the PSL due to the Pakistan Cricket Board not honouring my contractual agreement/payments,” Faulkner wrote.
“I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me.
“It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing.
“But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the Pakistan Cricket Board and PSL.
“I’m sure you all understand my position.”
1/2
I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans.
But unfortunately I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments.
I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me.— James Faulkner (@JamesFaulkner44) February 19, 2022
2/2
It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing.
But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20I’m sure you all understand my position.
— James Faulkner (@JamesFaulkner44) February 19, 2022
Faulkner did not appear for the Gladiators in their three most recent PSL matches, and will now miss the franchise’s final two matches of the tournament.
His extraordinary allegations have met a swift and severe response from the PCB itself, as well as tournament officials.
The PCB took to its own Twitter account to post a series of refutations, first slamming Faulkner’s ‘false and misleading accusations’ before following up with a more detailed statement shortly thereafter.
The PCB and Quetta Gladiators have regretfully taken note of Mr James Faulkner's false and misleading accusations and will shortly be releasing a detailed statement on the matter.#HBLPSL7
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 19, 2022
In it, the body again expressed withering condemnation for the Australian’s ‘reprehensible behaviour’, before providing their version of events; claiming Faulkner had indeed been paid, just to an outdated bank account of his.
PCB and Quetta Gladiators strongly refute James Faulkner's baseless allegations
More details ⤵️https://t.co/AwAOWjF126
1/2 pic.twitter.com/cR3Il1MKTd— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 19, 2022
2/2 pic.twitter.com/8FIUlc5HtS
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 19, 2022
“In December 2021, Mr James Faulkner’s agent confirmed the United Kingdom bank details to which his fee payments should be transferred. This was noted for action,” the PCB statement reads.
“In January 2022, for reasons best known to Mr Faulkner, his agent sent revised banking details of Mr Faulkner, his agent sent revised banking details of Mr Faulkner’s onshore account in Australia.
“However, the contracted 70 per cent of Mr Faulkner’s fee payment was transferred to his offshore UK bank account. The receipt of this payment was acknowledged by Mr Faulkner.
“Accordingly, payments due to Mr Faulkner as per his contract are fully up to date.”
The PCB customarily pays players competing in the PSL themselves, before recovering the money from the individual franchises after the fact. Players are generally payed 70 per cent of their match fees up front, with the remaining 30 per cent withheld until after the tournament is completed.
James Faulkner of the Hobart Hurricanes. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Faulkner’s fury came after requesting the PCB to transfer money from his original UK account to the secondary account, only for the bank to decline their request.
“In spite of the money being transferred and received in his account, Mr Faulkner continued to insist that a second duplicate payment of the same amount be made to his account in Australia. This meant Mr Faulkner would have been paid twice,” the statement continues..
“He further threatened and refused to participate in his side’s match against Multan Sultans on Friday afternoon until his money demands were met.
“The PCB, as a responsible organisation, engaged with Mr Faulkner early Friday afternoon in an attempt to reason with him. Despite his reprehensible and insulting behaviour during the conversation, Mr Faulkner was assured that all his grievances would be addressed.
“He refused to reconsider his decision to take the field in a crucial match for his side, let his team down and demanded that travel arrangements be immediately made.”
Before leaving, Faulkner allegedly threw his bat and helmet into a chandelier in the hotel he was staying in, with photos surfacing claiming to depict the aftermath of the incident.
James Faulkner ki harktainn ????
Damaged Chandelier…
Damaged PC Hotel… pic.twitter.com/oKh6Xjpo19— Hamza Khan ???????? (@HamzaKhan259) February 19, 2022
Faulkner has been involved in controversies in the past too, I didn't want to tweet it but I will have to. Faulkner was sent back home this morning, he had broken the chandelier of PC hotel in Lahore too, had thrown his personal belongings in disgust as well [1/2]
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 19, 2022
The PCB’s statement described the incident, claiming Faulkner ‘had to pay damages to the hotel management’.
“The PCB later also received reports and complaints from the immigration authorities that Mr Faulkner had acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport.”
Faulkner has been barred from ever returning to the tournament in response to his ‘gross misconduct’, as part of an agreement between the PCB and all six franchises.
It isn’t the first time the 31-year old has lashed out at a T20 tournament, having left Big Bash League franchise Hobart Hurricanes in acrimonious circumstances as well.
Faulkner claimed the Hurricanes had only been willing to offer him what he viewed as a ‘direspectful’ contract, prompting him to cut ties with the club.
“They brought an initial offer to my manager – he was embarrassed to bring it [to me],” Faulkner said on SEN’s Jack and Painey program in September last year.
“I found that pretty hard to take when I first heard it on the phone – found it pretty disrespectful for what I’ve given to Tasmanian cricket.
“I’ve put my heart and soul into it. To hear the initial offer… it cut pretty deep.”
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