Earlier this week, PCB announced the central contracts for players who represent Pakistan at the international level. This contract is a must since it fulfills the player’s monetary demands. Reports and media rumours suggest that players would have protested this year after the ICC Cricket World Cup if this contract had not been signed.
Read: ICC World Cup Schedule 2023 PDF Download |Men’s one Day World Cup
However, it is good that the players and the board found a mutual ground, and the players will get the financial incentive they deserve.
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Let’s look at this central contract, its specifics, and how it has sparked a massive debate on social media.
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PCB Central Contract 2023
The good thing is that PCB has negotiated a contract that satisfies the player’s needs. It will last for three years till 30 June 2026.
The players are happy since they will be compensated for their hard work. ICC shares the revenue with each board. The boards make this money because of the players. Naturally, players will want a share of this fruit as well.
Hence, we have this contract. Let’s look at the specifics of this deal. We have made tables to ensure you understand it easily.
| Category | Increment (%) | Players |
|---|---|---|
| A | 202 | Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| B | 144 | Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan |
| C | 135 | Imad Wasim, Abdullah Shafique |
| D | 127 | 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, Zaman Khan |
As you can see, there are three players in Category A, 6 in Category B, 2 in Category C, and 14 in Category D. A total of 25 players will enjoy these increments in their pay according to the categories they are placed into.
Match fee increment
Not only this but there will be increments for those who will play domestic cricket. It is evident that PCB emphasises FC cricket and wants to enhance the quality of cricket played at the household level. They will be paid 50% of their international match fee when playing any first-class match.
| Match Type | Increment (%) |
|---|---|
| Test | 50 |
| ODI | 25 |
| T20I | 12.5 |
Other important details
Here are some other essential details regarding the central contract
| Information Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Domestic Match Fee for Contracted Players | 50% of International Match Fee |
| Allowed Foreign Leagues per Season | 2 |
| Contract Tenure | Three years |
| Financial Model Lock during Tenure | Yes |
| Player Performance Review Frequency | Every 12 months |
| Effective Date of New Contract Cycle | 1 July, 2023 |
| Expiration of Previous Contract Cycle | 30 June |
As you can see, players can be upgraded to another category or relegated based on their performance. PCB will review their performance every 12 months.
Another important detail is that players can only sign two foreign franchise contracts. This will ensure better workload management. We have seen how players all around the world have become injury-prone. This way, it can lessen their burden and save them from injuries.
Now, let’s talk about the debates it has sparked among fans.
The Imad Wasim Debate
Fans are not happy with the inclusion of Imad Wasim in this contract. The main point that everyone raised was that he hadn’t played any cricket for Pakistan lately. Also, people are speculating about any plans the board may have with him since Imad is nearing the age at which players retire from International cricket.
He used to be one of the best all-rounders Pakistan had. His lack of form led to him not being in the current squad. The last time he played an ODI match for Pakistan was in 2020. The previous T20I he played was against New Zealand earlier this year.
Imad showed an excellent all-round performance in that match. Unfortunately, his side lost the game against the Kiwis.
Exclusion of Abrar Ahmad
Another thing that surprised the fans was the exclusion of Abrar Ahmad. He is a mystery spinner who is an exciting prospect for the Pakistan cricket team in the future. The greens shirts lack a quality strike spinner, which Shadab and Nawaz struggling with form.
Hence, it was good to groom him for the future and provide monetary benefits to motivate him to perform well.
Unjust to some players
As per some fans, the way players have been categorized is unjust. Naseem should have been in the A category. Some players like Haris, Iftikhar, Ihsanullah, and Afgha Salman deserved a C contract at the very least.
People were furious as Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s only clean hitter in the form right now, was put in the D category.
PCB should disclose how it has placed the players on the roster. This will help players and the public know about PCB’s standards.
Parting thoughts
PCB’s latest announcement of a central contract for Pakistan’s international players meets monetary expectations but creates discussion.
The contract, which runs through June 30, 2026, pays players based on performance, focusing on domestic cricket.
Controversy has erupted over the absence of Imad Wasim and the exclusion of talented spinner Abrar Ahmad, leading to calls for greater openness in player selection.
Despite addressing money concerns and workload management, the contract is still under debate among cricket fans.
We hope the players can focus more on cricket since they are appropriately compensated.