The central contract remuneration for members of the national squad has significantly increased as a result of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to raise player compensation.
The core contracts of the national cricketers were up for renewal on June 30, 2
The core contracts of the national cricketers were up for renewal on June 30, 2023, and the players’ demands are the subject of continuing discussions.
Zaka Ashraf, the head of the PCB, commented on the situation by saying, “The players are the board’s essence; they deserve good compensation so that they play with more commitment for the team.”
Insiders have disclosed that the PCB is prepared to substantially raise the players’ salary. A monthly retainer salary of Rs. 4.5 million has been offered to top cricketers across all formats, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Under the previous contract, red ball players were paid Rs. 1 million per month, while white ball players were paid Rs. 900,000. Players in other categories will also receive significantly higher pay.
To permit Category A players to compete in one overseas league annually, discussions are now underway. The number of leagues in which Category B and C players may compete will be two and three, respectively. However, requests for a portion of the money made from the ICC or PCB contracts were turned down.
To prevent disagreements over annual renewals, the board is aiming to create a three-year arrangement. In order to keep players engaged in this format, it is also suggested that test match prices be significantly raised. Additional incentives will also be offered.
One Day International, Twenty20 International, and Test Match fees all experienced an increase of 10% from the previous year to Rs. 838,530, Rs. 515,696, and Rs. 372,075. The cost was the same for all player categories, but it will soon rise.
The authorities are aware that Pakistani cricketers’ inability to participate in the IPL prevents them from earning as much as other top international talents. The Board desires to significantly raise players’ pay to reduce financial stress, even though the gap cannot be entirely filled in.
It should be remembered that separate contracts for red and white ball players were made the previous year. For both the red and white ball versions, Category A only comprised Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Imam-ul-Haq was in Category C for the red ball and B for the white ball, whilst Hasan Ali was in Category B for the red ball and C for the white ball. Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan received Category A contracts for white ball whereas Azhar Ali was only offered red ball.
Central Contracts for Pakistani Cricketers Face New Delays
As the much-anticipated contracts continue to experience slight delays, the subject of central contracts for national cricketers has come to the fore.
Discussions that are being held to create a comprehensive and equitable contract framework have drawn a lot of attention.
Central contracts were given a one-month extension to reach a deal that pleased players before their original June 30 expiration date.
When Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), alluded to a significant financial rise to central contract values, the situation took an unexpected turn.
The projected union of the red and white ball national player categorizations, according to media reports, is another big change that is about to occur.
According to sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board, a decision has been made to consolidate the central contract structure into three major groups: A, B, C, and D.
Additionally, media sources indicate a general increase in match payments for cricket players across all formats, which might raise player earnings and motivation.
According to a report from last month, the committee meeting with the necessary departments had concluded, and the PCB would now give things pertaining to the contracts their final form.