The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released details of the monthly remuneration for national team players under the new central contracts introduced for the year 2022-23. The players have been categorized into four groups: A, B, C, and D, with corresponding pay scales.
- Category A players, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, will receive approximately Rs6 million per month.
- Category B players, such as Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan, will earn Rs4.1 million monthly.
- Those in Category C, Imad Wasim and Abdullah Shafique, will be paid Rs1.75 million.
- Category D cricketers, like Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, and others, will receive Rs1.13 million per month.
Additionally, the players’ monthly earnings will include 3% of the revenue received by the PCB from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The new contracts also bring significant raises in match fees: 50% increase for Test matches, 25% for ODIs, and 12.5% for T20Is. Centrally contracted players participating in domestic cricket will be paid 50% of the international match fee. Moreover, players will be permitted to participate in two foreign leagues each season.
These contracts are set for a three-year term with a locked financial model, although player performance will be assessed annually. The previous central contract cycle concluded on June 30, and the new contracts became effective from July 1, 2023.
Last month, the PCB confirmed a significant three-year central contract deal with senior players, effective from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. This comprehensive agreement covers 25 cricketers and includes a share of ICC revenue.
Unlike the previous year, red-ball and white-ball national contracts have been merged, a move proposed by the central contract committee to evaluate players based on match-winning performances and promote fairness and transparency in the selection process.
