The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its new central contracts after much delay on Sunday. The contracts are divided into four categories, with top players taking home significant increases, especially in ICC shares.
So, let’s break down what’s new in this central contract and what it means for Pakistan’s cricket stars.
Category A
At the top tier, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are raking in some serious cash. They’ll earn PKR 4.5 million as a monthly base salary, with a boost from their share in the ICC revenue pool.
This ICC share, set at 3% of the 2024-25 revenue, has risen to PKR 2.07 million, up from last year’s PKR 1.53 million. All in all, this brings their monthly earnings to a solid PKR 6.57 million.
Category B
In Category B, players like Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shan Masood are next in line. They’ll be receiving a PKR 3 million base salary, plus a boosted ICC share of PKR 1.552 million (up from PKR 1.147 million), giving them a monthly total of PKR 4.552 million.
Read More: Shoaib Malik Backs Mohammad Rizwan As Captain
Category C
Category C, a bit lower on the pay scale but still impressive, includes players like Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan.
These players will earn a base salary of PKR 1 million, with an ICC share bump to PKR 1.035 million. This brings their total monthly earnings to PKR 2.035 million. It’s good to see the PCB valuing the next wave of talent, especially with these players showing consistent promise.
Category D
Finally, Category D features young talents like Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Usman Khan.
This group will take home a base salary of PKR 750,000, with an ICC share of PKR 517,500, bringing their monthly earnings to PKR 1.267 million.
Match Fees and Domestic Bonuses
Interestingly, match fees have stayed the same this year. Test matches offer PKR 1,257,795 per game, ODIs bring in PKR 644,620, and T20Is pay PKR 418,584.
Central contract players also receive extra for domestic matches—PKR 628,898 for a four-day match, PKR 322,310 for an ODI, and PKR 209,292 for a T20 match.
Read More: Will Team India Tour Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025?
So, What’s the Impact?
For one, these central contracts are a big financial leap for Pakistan cricket. The ICC share increase alone signals the board’s long-term commitment to rewarding players more fairly, particularly in an era where T20 leagues worldwide offer tempting financial incentives
It’s no wonder the PCB is keen to keep top talent invested in national duty. It also reflects a changing mindset within the PCB. The board is clearly focusing on nurturing a deeper pool of players, from the established stars to the up-and-coming youngsters.
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