Stories
PCB Silent On Central Contracts Two Months After Expiry
- •The Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to announce new centrally contracted players more than two months after previous contracts expired on July 31.
- •Delays are reportedly caused by negotiations and player resistance to being restricted to single-format contracts.
- •The PCB is moving toward format-specific deals and introducing new tracks based on fitness, domestic participation, and performance scores.
- •Conflicting statements have been made by officials regarding whether the final contract list will be made public.
Key Questions Answered
The Pakistan Cricket Board delayed announcing its new central contracts due to resistance from players who are reluctant to be restricted to a single format under the new format-specific deal structure. Negotiations and implementation have faced prolonged discussions and hurdles similar to previous delays experienced in 2023.
Under the new structure unveiled by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, players must clear a three-stage process involving medical and fitness assessments, domestic cricket participation, and a minimum performance score. The board established five contract tracks determining salaries, such as Track A for Test specialists and Track D for T20-only players, relying heavily on data and format specialization.
The PCB has given conflicting indications regarding whether the list will be made public. While one official stated the board was not obliged to release internal contract details, another later confirmed that the final list would eventually be announced.
