With the implementation of new central contracts, Pakistani cricket players will see a game-changing boost.
Top players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi could make an incredible PKR 4.5 million (roughly USD 15,900) per month as a retainer, which would be a fourfold increase over the top-tier contracts from the previous year. However, negotiations regarding their participation in overseas T20 leagues are still ongoing.
Red-ball and white-ball players will no longer be separated under the new contracts; instead, there will once again be four different player categories. Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam will participate in category A as the captain and cross-format stars, respectively.
The expected payout for category B players is around PKR 3 million (around $10,600), while payouts for categories C and D are expected to range from PKR 0.75 and 1.5 million (roughly $2,650 and $5,300).
Particularly for the top category, the overall rise is significant. It also occurs shortly before the implementation of the ICC’s new revenue sharing plan the following year, with the PCB’s estimated annual earnings exceeding PKR 9.6 billion (about USD 34 million), more than twice the prior ICC rights cycle.
For players who have historically received some of the lowest salaries worldwide, this increase is a game-changer.
Due to stringent restrictions, their limited involvement in overseas T20 leagues has further impacted their revenue.The number of leagues Pakistani players will be able to play in is still up for discussion; those in the top two categories are expected to be limited to one league outside of the PSL, while those in the lesser categories may play in many leagues.
The PCB recognizes the importance of these leagues and that players who aren’t involved miss out on potentially life-changing revenues. When compared to their existing pay, senior players who are in high demand on the league circuit may earn two to three times as much each year from league deals.
The PCB also intends to use the league circuit as a distinct 12-month calendar and accommodate players’ responsibilities in accordance with that.
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