PCB decide against pay cut for Pakistan cricketers, reduce duration of central contracts

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) came forward to make the decision to shorten the three-year central contracts to one year, but in making the decision, they announced that there would be no pay cuts in the salaries of the players. 

The chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, called for a meeting in Lahore, where the decision was made, according to reports. It is also worth noting that Pakistan’s red-ball coach Jason Gillispie, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, selectors Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, and many other senior officials were present at the meeting. 

The meeting was called in light of Pakistan’s disastrous performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The side lost clashes against the USA and India, and seeing their performance, the board called for a restructuring of the rules. 

"The selectors have recommended no change in the financial part of the central contracts, which would now be revised into 12-month contracts with players' fitness, behaviour, and form all to be assessed every 12 months,” a board official was quoted as saying by the Times of India. 

The players received their central contracts in 2023 but that did not guarantee any agreement conditions and financials for three years. Furthermore, according to the report, the PCB has mandated that every player under contract must participate in fitness testing every three months, with the tests being controlled by the two coaches. 

Furthermore, it was decided that everyone would adhere to strict technical requirements while evaluating player applications for NOCs to compete in foreign leagues. The board will be completely focused on making players available for the national team. 

"Only (those) players with high fitness and performance criteria will receive NOCs, ensuring a high standard of representation in international leagues," the official said. 

At the meeting, it was also determined that all players would be required to play in domestic cricket, and before selection for the national team, the selectors were advised to keep an eye on domestic performances.