Several Pakistan cricketers want to be placed in Category C of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s new central contracts. The Pakistan Cricket Board describes Track C as a category specifically for dedicated short-format players.
Players in this category will receive no restrictions on participating in overseas leagues. In contrast, Test players will not be granted no-objection certificates for overseas leagues, though they are permitted to play red-ball county cricket.
T20 specialists under the new framework will earn a monthly retainer of Rs. 2 million or Rs. 2.6 million, depending on their specific tier. Category C players will also earn Rs. 500,000 per ODI or T20 International and Rs. 700,000 per Test if they are selected.
The highest monthly retainer proposed under these contracts is Rs. 4.8 million, which equates to Rs. 57.6 million a year. A leading player could earn between Rs. 80 million and Rs. 90 million annually when including match fees and other payments.
Saim Ayub reportedly earned Rs. 126 million during a single Pakistan Super League season. Players who participate in overseas leagues could earn more than Rs. 200 million to Rs. 220 million a year.
The new central contracts are set to cover the period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The process stalled following Pakistan’s poor showing on the tour of England, which ended in a whitewash.
Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood are reportedly at greater risk of being dropped. Players in the senior categories A, AB, BC, and C must play at least 4 Tests, 6 ODIs, or 6 T20 Internationals in a year.
Category D is exempt from the requirement to play a minimum number of matches. All players must take part in domestic cricket in their respective formats.
