PCB Updates Central Contracts, Category B Players Miss Out on Pay Increase

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has implemented adjustments to the central contracts, increasing the earnings for cricketers in categories C and D, according to inside sources on Tuesday.

Information indicates that national players within category C will see their monthly compensation rise by PKR 500,000, elevating their salary from PKR 2 million to PKR 2.5 million.

Similarly, cricketers in category D will now be entitled to PKR 1.5 million monthly, marking a PKR 300,000 increase from the previous PKR 1.2 million.

It was revealed that the PCB has focused salary increments solely on categories C and D, leaving players in category B without any raise.

It is worth noting that the PCB revealed central contracts for 30 male cricketers; this year, category A was not represented.

The PCB stated that unlike in prior years, no player was placed in category A. Instead, ten players were assigned to each of the B, C, and D categories.

The pool of players has been expanded from 27 to 30 compared to last year, with 12 fresh faces included for the first time.

The new additions consist of Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.

Based on outstanding performances from the prior season, five players have moved up. Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan were all promoted from category C to category B.

Nine players have kept their spots, including Abdullah Shafique in category C, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr in category D.

Shaheen Shah Afridi continues in category B, while Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Saud Shakeel remain in Category C.

Significantly, eight players who were part of last year’s contracts were not included this time around.

Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan, all previously in Category D, were not awarded contracts this year.