ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the details of players’ remuneration under their central contract.
The announcement comes after the team’s early exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, forcing the board to consider revising the players’ central contracts.
Some players may face demotion due to poor performance, while others may lose their main contract altogether.
As per the current central contract, Category A players, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, receive Rs 45 lakh per month.
In Category B, players like Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah are paid Rs 30 lakh per month.
Category C players like Imad Wasim earn Rs 750,000 to Rs 15 lakh per month.
Category D players, including Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Saeem Ayub, and others, receive the same salary as Category C.
These figures only represent the monthly salaries of the players. They also earn match fees and win bonuses in all three formats (Tests, ODIs, T20Is) and enjoy sponsorship benefits.
Sources told Geo News that the current three-year central contract was implemented on July 1, 2023, after the then PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf pushed for higher salaries from the players.
Notably, captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan are at risk of losing their Category A status. However, sources say that the salaries of national cricketers will not be cut.
There are also concerns that players may reject central contracts in the event of relegation, opting to play without restriction.
The board is awaiting a report from head coach Gary Kirsten before making a decision. Additionally, the report of Senior Manager Wahab Riaz will be reviewed before taking final decisions.