PCB posts details of Central Contract offered to 25 cricketers. A three-year central contacts deal with its senior players has been successfully negotiated, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and will begin on July 1, 2023, and end on June 30, 2026.
25 cricketers will receive a “momentous deal” that includes a share of ICC revenue, according to a press release posted on the PCB website.
Red-ball and white-ball national contracts have been combined, unlike last year. The central contract committee proposed this choice as a way to rank players based on their ability to win games and to encourage an impartial, open hiring process.
Also read: PCB announces squad for World Cup 2023: Check all players
The list of players will be divided into four categories, with monthly retainers increasing significantly. The revenue from ICC will be included in the overall monthly compensation.
Category A (3 players): 202 %
Category B (6): 144 %
Category C (2): 135 %
Category D (14): 127 %
Below is the list of players with categories who are being offered contracts:
Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category B: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan
Category C: Imad Wasim and Abdullah Shafique
Category D: 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
Players’ match fees will also see a major hike: 50% increment in Test, 25% in ODI and 12.5% in T20I.
Domestic cricketers who are centrally contracted will be paid 50% of the international match fee. In addition, each season, players will be permitted to compete in two foreign leagues.
The contacts’ three-year term will have its financial model locked in for the duration. Player performance, on the other hand, will be evaluated every 12 months. The previous central contract cycle expired on 30 June, and the new agreement will take effect on 1 July 2023.
PCB posts details of Central Contract offered to 25 cricketers, check here:
PCB Management Committee Chairperson Zaka Ashraf said in a statement, “I am pleased to announce that after lengthy negotiations, the PCB has come to a financial agreement with the players. We believe that our players are the true assets of Pakistan cricket, and it is our utmost priority to ensure their well-being and provide them with the best possible services.
“This deal signifies our commitment to improving the financial health of our players, acknowledging their hard work and dedication to the game. We firmly believe that a financially secure and motivated team is more likely to excel on the field.
“As we move forward, the entire nation stands behind these players to do well in the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup. We have faith in their abilities, and we are confident that they will make the nation proud with their outstanding performances.”
Responding to the PCB’s Central Contract offer, Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam said, “It is a historic deal. I am extremely happy and satisfied that we have reached an agreement with the PCB. It has been a lengthy and, at times, challenging negotiation process, but I believe we have reached a fair and beneficial agreement for both parties.
“I would like to extend my special thanks to Chairman Zaka Ashraf for personally overseeing and facilitating these negotiations. He took a personal interest and his commitment to Pakistan cricket is truly commendable.
“This agreement signifies a new chapter in players’ careers and in Pakistan cricket. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all players towards the game and now we are all geared up ahead of the ICC Men’s World Cup.”
PCB Director for International Cricket Operations Usman Wahla said, “We’ve not only signed a historic central contract pay deal, but we’ve also taken a monumental step towards recognising the true value of our cricketers both on and off the field.
“I would like to express my appreciation for the visionary leadership of PCB’s senior management, and the collaborative spirit shown by Babar Azam and the senior players involved.
“Together, we’ve written a new chapter in Pakistan’s cricket history with this central contract deal – a testament to teamwork both on and off the field.”
