The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that it has successfully negotiated a three-year central contracts deal with its senior players, effective from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. These negotiations have been going on for a long time as the senior players had certain demands which were finally met on Wednesday.
It is important to remember that earlier central contracts had expired on June 30 and that the conditions were finalised after some time. The deal will cover 25 cricketers and will include a portion of ICC revenue. However, two Test spinners, Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed, were not included in the list. Meanwhile, former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed has been placed in the D category.
Speaking to the Local news channel as reported by Cricket Pakistan, Zaka Ashraf has stated that players who deserve it will be recognized and added to the central contracts. He also clarified that the selection committee and team management are responsible for determining the list of players who are eligible for the central contracts.
“I came to know that few players are not there (in central contracts) and they complained about that. If there is any injustice done with Sarfaraz or any other player, there will be rectified,” Zaka Ashraf said.
The star players of Pakistan’s cricket team – Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi – are all set to receive a monthly retainer of PKR 4.5 million, which is four times higher than what it was last year. Category B players will receive PKR 3 million, while Category C and D players will receive between PKR 0.75 to 1.5 million.
According to various sources, It was reported Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq played an instrumental role in helping the mutual understanding resolution of this dispute after players raised concerns about certain core contract clauses. Cricketers’ unpaid wages will be settled by the revised terms and conditions of the new contract.
Below is the list of players with categories who are being offered contracts:
Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category B: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan
Category C: Imad Wasim and Abdullah Shafique
Category D: Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan
