July 15th 2024.
Lahore: In a meeting held by top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday, it was decided that the players' central contracts would now be for a period of one year instead of three years. However, to the relief of players, there would be no reduction in their fees.
This decision comes after the disappointing performance of the Pakistan team in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they failed to make it past the group stage, leading to criticism from fans. The board took note of this and decided to introduce a yearly review of players' performance and fitness, with a well-defined process for categorizing players.
The PCB also emphasized the importance of players' fitness by mandating a fitness assessment every three months and requiring them to participate in domestic cricket. Currently, players in Category A such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi receive a monthly fee of 4.5 million PKR, while Category B players like Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah earn 3 million PKR per month. Players in Category C and D, including Imad Wasim, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Hasan Ali, earn between 7,50,000 to 1.5 million PKR monthly.
This decision to reduce the contract duration from three years to one year comes after the introduction of three-year contracts last year, which was done under pressure from players for increased remuneration.
The PCB also addressed the issue of Non-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players participating in foreign leagues, stating that a technical process would be put in place to ensure that only compliant players receive NOCs.
PCB Chairman Naqvi stressed on the importance of promoting players based on their performance and fitness, and also highlighted the board's zero-tolerance policy towards indiscipline and groupings within the team. He added that players who lack discipline will not be tolerated and that unity and consensus among the team members is crucial.
These decisions were made amidst recent controversies, including reports of heated arguments between fast bowler Shaheen Afridi and batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during Pakistan's tour to England before the World Cup. The board's strict stance on discipline and unity within the team reflects its determination to improve the team's overall performance and restore the faith of fans.
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