Players Will Receive Additional Compensation From PCB For Rejecting Foreign League Offers

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) introduced distinct red ball and white ball central contracts for its players on Friday. These contracts have higher retainers, but they will deter their elite players from playing in foreign leagues, even though the PCB is willing to pay them compensation for doing so.

According to the PCB, the Board of Governors meeting authorised a 15 billion rupee yearly budget for the fiscal year 2022–2023 with 78% going toward cricket-related activities.

PCB Wants Players To Prioritise National Matches

As part of its strategy to incentivise, reward and encourage its high-performing elite cricketers, as well as to narrow the gap in salaries compared to players of other countries, the BoG has approved changes in the men’s central contracts structure,” the PCB said in a statement.

There will be distinct red and white-ball contracts with higher retainers starting on July 1. The number of players under central contract has increased from 20 to 33.

The Board also announced an increase in the match fees for non-playing members from 50% to 70% of the entire match charge. Both increases totalled 10% across all formats.

It Is A Very Important Season For Us: PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja

Additionally, a captaincy stipend has been implemented to reimburse the team captain for the additional duties that come along with that position.

“We want to discourage our elite players from signing up for additional off-season events. We feel the players are better off not going to these leagues. We will pay them 50 to 60 per cent of the contract amount they are offered where required.

“This is a very important season for us we don’t want our players to be tired or burnt out. We want them to be ready and fresh to go for national duties. Since September 2021, the Pakistan men’s cricket team has achieved an impressive 75 per cent success rate across all formats, which is the highest amongst all the Test playing nations. This has contributed to Pakistan improving its rankings, which now stands at fifth in Tests (up by one), third in ODIs (up by three and the highest since January 2017) and third in T20Is (up by one),” PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said.

Pakistan will be playing against Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series in July.

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