ISLAMABAD: A significant increase in monthly retainers will be provided to players, and the revenue from the ICC will be integrated into their overall monthly remuneration. Players will be categorized into four groups based on their contracts.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that it has successfully negotiated a three-year central contracts deal with its senior players. This deal will be in effect from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. A total of 25 cricketers will receive this significant deal, which will include a portion of ICC revenue.
Unlike the previous year, red-ball and white-ball national contracts have been merged. The central contract committee proposed a decision to assess players based on their ability to contribute to winning matches, promoting fairness, and ensuring a transparent selection process.
There will be four categories of players, and each category will see substantial increases in their monthly retainers. This new contract also incorporates revenue from the ICC into their overall monthly remuneration.
In Category A, consisting of 3 players, there will be a remarkable 202% increase. Category B, comprising 6 players, will see their monthly retainers rise by 144%. For the 2 players in Category C, there will be a significant boost of 135%. The largest group, Category D, with 14 players, will experience a substantial increase of 127% in their monthly retainers.
list of categorized players
The following is the list of players categorized for contract offers:
A Category: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi
B Category: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan
C Category: Imad Wasim and Abdullah Shafique
D Category: Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan
In addition to these central contracts, there will be substantial increases in players’ match fees, with a 50% increment in Test matches, 25% in ODIs, and 12.5% in T20Is. Centrally contracted players participating in domestic cricket will receive 50% of the international match fee.
Additionally, players will have the opportunity to take part in two foreign leagues during each season. The contracts will have a locked financial model for the three-year term, with player performance reviews conducted every 12 months. This new contract comes into effect from July 1, 2023, following the expiration of the previous central contract cycle on June 30.
