The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to announce the list of players who will receive central contracts for the upcoming year. According to reports, the announcement is expected within the next few days. Under the new policy, only those cricketers who are consistently part of all three formats – Tests, ODIs, and T20Is – are likely to be awarded contracts.
Stricter Criteria Introduced
Unlike previous years, the PCB has adopted stricter standards for central contracts. Players who do not feature regularly across formats may miss out. This move is aimed at rewarding consistency and commitment, while also encouraging players to raise their performance levels.
Pakistan’s Recent Struggles Raise Concerns
Pakistan’s performance over the past year has been disappointing. The national side managed to win only one out of three Test matches, two out of 11 ODIs, and seven out of 14 T20Is. Losses against comparatively weaker teams like Bangladesh and the West Indies have further increased pressure on both selectors and players.
Players Likely to Miss Out
Sources suggest that several players could be left out of the central contracts this year. These include:
- Aamer Jamal
- Mohammad Huraira
- Haseebullah Khan
- Usman Khan
- Mohammad Ali
Their inconsistent roles in the national setup may cost them a spot.
Players in Line for Contracts
On the other hand, some players are expected to be rewarded with contracts, including:
- Hasan Nawaz
- Mohammad Haris
- Sufyan Muqeem
- Hasan Ali
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
Additionally, the names of Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sahibzada Farhan are still under consideration.
Consultation Completed, Approval Pending
Reports confirm that PCB officials have already completed consultations with coaches, the high-performance director, the finance department, and the international cricket department. The final list will be announced once PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi gives his approval.
Last Year’s Central Contract Overview
In 2023, the PCB awarded central contracts to 25 players, but this year the list is likely to expand to 30 players. Last year, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were placed in Category A, while, surprisingly, Shaheen Shah Afridi was demoted to Category B. Fakhar Zaman and Sarfaraz Ahmed were completely dropped.
Other notable omissions last year included Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, and Tayyab Tahir. Players like Aamer Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Usman Khan were placed in Category D.
Financial Structure of the Contracts
The PCB has increased the retainer budget by 37%, raising it to PKR 1,173.49 million. However, the monthly salaries and match fees remain unchanged from last year.
- Category A players: PKR 6.57 million per month
- Category B players: PKR 4.55 million per month
- Category C players: PKR 2.03 million per month
- Category D players: PKR 1.27 million per month
ICC Revenue Share Likely to End
Another key update is that players may receive their share of ICC revenue for the last time this year. Currently, cricketers get 3% of ICC earnings, but the three-year agreement will expire next year and may not be renewed.
