Pakistan players to get record breaking increament as per new contracts
The increament will be a game-changer for players who have been among the lowest-paid brackets internationally.
Crickate
With the implementation of new central contracts, Pakistan's cricket stars stand to benefit in a significant way. Top players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi could make a staggering PKR 4.5 million (roughly USD 15,900) per month as a retainer, which would be a fourfold increase compared to the top-tier contracts of the previous year. However, negotiations regarding their participation in overseas T20 leagues are still ongoing.
The separation between red-ball and white-ball players from the previous season will be eliminated with the new contracts, bringing the number of player categories back to four. As captain and cross-format stars, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi will fall under group A.
Players in category B will receive about PKR 3 million (about $10,600), while those in categories C and D would receive PKR 0.75 to 1.5 million (roughly $2,650 to $5,300).
The overall growth is significant, especially for the top group. Additionally, it occurs shortly before the implementation of the ICC's new revenue sharing plan the following year. The PCB is anticipated to earn more than PKR 9.6 billion (about USD 34 million) annually, which is more than twice the earnings from the previous ICC rights cycle.
For athletes who have previously been among the lowest paid groups internationally, this increase is a game-changer. Their profits have been further impacted by their limited participation in overseas T20 leagues as a result of restrictive laws.
Negotiations are still ongoing on how many leagues Pakistani players will be permitted to play in the following season, with players in the top two categories expected to be limited to just one league outside of the PSL and those in the lesser categories having the option of playing in numerous leagues.
The PCB recognizes the importance of these leagues and the opportunity that players who choose not to participate in them are losing out on. Senior athletes who are in high demand on the league circuit may earn two to three times as much annually from league deals as they do from their current employment.
The PCB also intends to approach the league circuit as a different 12-month schedule, taking players' obligations into account.
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