Karachi, Oct 1 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has awarded the team with a cash prize of approximately 130 million rupees for reaching the final of the recently concluded Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

Each member of the Twenty20 squad was awarded with a cash prize of six million rupees, while a similar sum was announced as bonus for 20 centrally contracted “A” category players by the PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf at a glittering ceremony here on Sunday.

Ace batsman Mohammad Yousuf was presented another cheque of six million rupees for winning the ICC best Test batsman of 2006 award earlier this month, the Dawn reported.

Commending the performance of the team in South Africa, Ashraf said it was great commitment by Shoaib Malik’s young side, and the whole nation was proud of their performance.

“It was their self-belief which took them into the final and a lot of credit goes to captain Shoaib Malik for the way he kept unity in the ranks of players and led them from the front,” Ashraf said.

He also complimented new Aussie coach Geoff Lawson.

“He (Lawson) burst into tears after Pakistan went down fighting in the final and that shows how committed he already is to Pakistan cricket,” Ashraf said.

He went on to praise the selection committee, comprising Salahuddin Ahmed, Salim Jaffar and Shafqat Rana, for its role. The three selectors were also given awards on the occasion. (With inputs from ANI)