[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a long-awaited announcement regarding central contracts, granting a substantial 202% increase in the monthly retainers for Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan.
Following this increment, this trio, now categorized in Category A, is anticipated to receive a monthly sum of Rs4.5 million, marking a more than four-fold rise compared to the previous year.
This development comes after a four-month-long impasse between the PCB and the players, and it’s noteworthy as it’s the first time that players will share in Pakistan’s earnings from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Also Read: PCB Shares Info On Central Contracts For 25 Cricketers
The PCB shared, “PCB has successfully concluded a three-year central contract agreement with its senior players, effective from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026, encompassing 25 cricketers.”
As per the arrangement, players have been segmented into four categories, with captain Babar, Rizwan, and Afridi occupying the top tier.
Category B comprises Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan, with an estimated monthly salary of Rs3 million. Meanwhile, Imad Wasim and Abdullah Shafique find themselves in Category C, earning Rs1.5 million.
Category D encompasses players such as Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan, each receiving Rs750,000 per month.
The PCB has also stated that player match fees will undergo a 50% increase for Test matches, a 25% increase for one-day internationals, and a 12.5% increase for Twenty20 matches.
Also Read: PCB Announces 15 Member Squad for World Cup 2023
In a departure from the previous year, the PCB has amalgamated red-ball and white-ball national contracts. Furthermore, players have been granted the freedom to participate in two foreign leagues each season, and the financial terms for the three-year contract will remain unchanged, with player performance assessments scheduled every 12 months.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
