The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing for a significant restructuring of its central contracts for national cricketers ahead of the new contract cycle beginning July 1, according to sources familiar with the development.
The current three-year financial model for player contracts is set to expire on June 30. It was introduced in 2023 during the tenure of former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf and has continued under the leadership of current chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
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Sources say preliminary discussions regarding the new central contracts are already underway, while the final approval of the revised financial structure will rest with PCB chairman Naqvi.
In the previous cycle, the PCB awarded central contracts to 30 players, and notably, no cricketer was placed in Category A for the first time. The upcoming contracts are expected to bring further changes based on performance metrics, fitness standards and consistency across formats.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to make major changes to national cricketers’ central contracts ahead of the new contract cycle beginning from July 1, sources told Geo News on Friday. pic.twitter.com/xveJvlhENZ
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Officials suggest that the revised model may result in promotions and demotions across categories, with players’ recent performances playing a key role in determining their contract status. The board is also expected to place greater emphasis on fitness benchmarks as part of its evaluation criteria.
Sources indicate that several established players, including Mohammad Nawaz, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat and Khushdil Shah, may struggle to retain their central contracts under the new assessment framework.
At the same time, domestic cricket performers are expected to benefit from the restructuring. Young talents such as Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal are reportedly under consideration for inclusion in the upgraded contract list.
The PCB’s move is seen as part of a broader effort to strengthen competitiveness within the national setup and reward consistent domestic and international performances.
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While no final list has been announced yet, the revised contracts are expected to be finalised before the new cycle begins in July. Officials say the aim is to create a more performance-driven structure that aligns financial rewards with on-field contributions.
Further details are expected once the PCB completes internal evaluations and finalises approvals from the chairman.