Lahore, April 16: The Pakistan Cricket Board and the Punjab Government have announced cash rewards for the national selectors, close on the heels of chief selector Mohsin Khan's demand that the selectors should also be rewarded for the national team's performance.

Pakistan, considered underdogs before the start of the 2011 World Cup, made it to the last four stage of the tournament before their campaign ended in a 29-run defeat at the hands of India in the semi final clash at Mohali on March 30.

Following Pakistan's impressive show in the mega event, Mohsin had demanded that the PCB should also reward the selectors for the national team's performance.

Close on the heels of his demand, both the PCB and the Punjab government announced cash prizes of 500,000 rupees each. Mohsin said that he would be sharing the money with his colleagues.

"I am really grateful to the board and the chief minister of Punjab for their kind gesture in accepting my point of view which was a valid one," The Nation quoted Mohsin, as saying.

Citing the example of Indian selectors, who were given bonuses of 2.5 million rupees each for the Indian team's World Cup triumph, Mohsin said that Pakistani selectors also deserved a similar treatment.

The former Test opener stated that it was necessary for the PCB and the government to reward the players, management and selectors after a good performance, as it would only encourage them to do better in the future.

He pointed out that the selectors had played a vital role in the Pakistan team's resurrection in the last few months, as did the team management and the players.

"I thought all of us equally deserved credit for the team's good show," Mohsin added.

Ever since the Pakistan team returned home from the World Cup, the central and provincial governments have announced cash rewards for the players and officials, but this is for the first time that the selectors have also been given monetary bonuses.

Besides Mohsin, the national selection committee includes four other selectors, including M Ilyas, Azhar Khan and two co-opted members.

Mohsin insisted that he and his colleagues would share the amount, as they all deserved the credit for the team's good showing in the recently concluded tournament.

"My selectors have cooperated a lot with me and backed my decisions and they deserve this reward as much as I do," he said. (ANI)