Pakistan Cricket Board and Players Reach Agreement on Central Contracts Following Prolonged Negotiations – Reports

PCB and the national men's team players have reportedly reached a mutual agreement after several months of intense negotiations concerning central contracts.

After months of negotiations, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the men’s national team players have reportedly reached an agreement concerning central contracts. Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq is reported to have played a pivotal role in resolving long-standing issues.

Pakistan Cricket Board and Players Reach Agreement on Central Contracts Following Prolonged Negotiations - Reports

Despite the previous central contracts expiring on June 30, the PCB has not yet officially announced the new contracts, which has been a topic of concern and discussion in cricketing circles. The negotiations involved addressing various aspects of the central contract, including a proposed salary increase for the national cricketers.

As reported by The News Pakistan, Inzamam-ul-Haq played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the PCB and the players by facilitating a resolution based on ‘mutual understanding’ to address the concerns raised by the players regarding the central contracts.

Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, addressed the ongoing central contract negotiations during a press conference in Lahore ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023. While confirming that the contracts were still under negotiation, he expressed optimism about reaching a positive resolution.

“As far as the contracts are concerned, they are still being negotiated, but we are hopeful they will work out as the PCB always has our interests at heart,” said Captain Babar Azam.

Under the proposed central contract structure, cricketers are expected to receive compensation based on their category. Last year, the PCB introduced separate red and white-ball contracts, marking a significant departure from Pakistan cricket’s historical practices. However, it has now been decided to discontinue these categories in favor of a new system featuring four categories: A, B, C, and D.

Category A will encompass players representing all formats, including prominent names like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi. These Category A players are set to earn a monthly salary of PKR 4.5 million.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE – Tim Southee Fully Fit; Set to Play for New Zealand in ICC World Cup 2023

In Category B, players will receive a monthly salary of PKR 3 million. The newly proposed categories C and D will offer salaries ranging from PKR 0.75 million to 1.5 million.

Below is the list of players in the respective categories as per the proposed central contract structure for 2022-23:

Red & White-Ball Contracts:

  • Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi
  • Category B (Red-ball): Hasan Ali
  • Category C (White-ball): Hasan Ali
  • Category C (Red-ball): Imam-ul-Haq
  • Category B (White-ball): Imam-ul-Haq

Red Ball Contracts:

  • Category A: Azhar Ali
  • Category B: Fawad Alam
  • Category C: Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali
  • Category D: Abid Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah

White Ball Contracts:

  • Category A: Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan
  • Category B: Haris Rauf
  • Category C: Mohammad Nawaz
  • Category D: Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mehmood

Emerging contracts:

  • Ali Usman (Southern Punjab)
  • Haseebullah (Balochistan)
  • Kamran Ghulam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
  • Mohammad Haris (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
  • Mohammad Huraira (Northern)
  • Qasim Akram (Central Punjab)
  • Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab)
Pakistan Cricket Board and Players Reach Agreement on Central Contracts Following Prolonged Negotiations - Reports

The successful resolution of central contract negotiations marks a positive development for Pakistan cricket as it heads into the ICC World Cup 2023 and beyond. With the players and PCB reaching a mutual understanding, the focus can now shift to on-field performances.

IPL 2024

Related articles

Team India’s ODI Schedule Until the 2027 World Cup

After the 2025 Champions Trophy, India's next big target in ODI cricket will be the 2027 ODI World Cup. So, what does Team India's...

IPL 2025- Players Who Will Miss A Few Matches in the Beginning

The excitement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is about to begin in just a few days, with the tournament kicking off on March...

Rohit Sharma Leads in Win Percentage as Captain, Surpasses Ponting and Kohli

Indian team captain Rohit Sharma is one of the most successful leaders in the country’s cricket history. Under his captaincy, India has performed exceptionally...

Ravindra Jadeja Breaks Silence on Retirement… Says After Winning Champions Trophy – Don’t Spread Unnecessary Rumors

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Team India dominated the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and clinched the title while remaining unbeaten. In the tournament...

India Dominates in Dubai, Claims Champions Trophy; Crushes New Zealand in the Final

On Sunday, March 9, India defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets to win the Champions Trophy, securing an ICC ODI title after 12 years....

Virat Kohli Leads ODI Singles Record: A Deep Dive Into His Unstoppable Streak Since 2008

“Run! Forrest Run!” is a famous line from the Oscar-winning movie Forrest Gump. Jenny would say this to Forrest whenever he was teased by...

IND vs NZ Final Playing 11: Four Spinners or Three Pacers, What Will Be India’s Strategy?

India and New Zealand will face each other in the Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday. Team India is unbeaten in the tournament so...

IND vs NZ Stats: India Has Won the Last Six ODIs Against New Zealand, Tough Competition in ICC Tournaments – Check Stats

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final will be played between India and New Zealand on Sunday in Dubai. Both teams will give their best...