[Report] PCB approves 37% hike in central contract budget amid domestic cuts

[Ball Blazer]

According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has approved a significant 37% increase in its annual central contract budget, raising the players’ retainer pool to approximately Rs 1.173 billion. The new contracts, expected to be announced soon, will cover 30 players—five more than last year.

In sharp contrast, the budget for men’s domestic contracts has reportedly been slashed by 34%, dropping from Rs 684 million to Rs 450 million. Meanwhile, the women’s international programme is set for a major uplift, with the number of centrally contracted women rising from 16 to 24 and their total retainer pool boosted by 121% to Rs 69 million. The women’s domestic budget has also seen a modest 4% rise to Rs 37.2 million.

To improve domestic cricket standards, the PCB will take over 12 additional first-class venues, allocating Rs 93.6 million for their upkeep and pitch management through newly hired staff. Furthermore, Rs 444 million has been reserved for HR—covering fresh appointments, pay adjustments, and staff perks.

The board has also earmarked Rs 6 billion for the ongoing development of key venues: Gaddafi Stadium, National Stadium Karachi, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Separately, preparations are underway to finalise the budget for PSL Season 11, with the overall financial plan reportedly showing a surplus of Rs 2.5 billion.

 

[Markhor]

According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has approved a significant 37% increase in its annual central contract budget, raising the players’ retainer pool to approximately Rs 1.173 billion. The new contracts, expected to be announced soon, will cover 30 players—five more than last year.

In sharp contrast, the budget for men’s domestic contracts has reportedly been slashed by 34%, dropping from Rs 684 million to Rs 450 million.

That's a significant development. Are PCB worried more players will go freelance hence expanding the pool of centrally contracted players and hiking pay ?

By slashing the mens domestic contracts, I fear more players will feel disincentivised to play FC cricket, pull out of the system and go overseas to play English league cricket or in the USA as some have already done, further diminishing the standard of an already weak FC setup.

The PCB's wasteful expenditure has been criminal. The money spent on the Champions Cups (now discarded after one season) and the mentors should've been allocated to paying domestic cricketers properly.

 

[Savak]

Easiest job in the world being a national team player, get paid handsomely inspite of poor performances.

 

[sweep_shot]

Easiest job in the world being a national team player, get paid handsomely inspite of poor performances.

Not easy to get selected. A national player has to compete against thousands of other players.

 

[Savak]

Not easy to get selected. A national player has to compete against thousands of other players.

The problem is once you get selected, then you stay there regardless of performances. Look at Pakistan's record in the last 5-6 years in all the formats and yet the same players get pay rises, A and B contracts.

 

[Vikram1989]

This is such a flawed strategy and will eat the pak cricket from inside. Short term benefits can't be prioritised to replace long term goal.If pak even manages to loose the poor existing domestic structure, its curtains for pak cricket.

 

[BouncerGuy]

LOL... PCB making mess yet again..

Why would you cut domestic to increase CC player's salary... this is so bad.

PCB needs to focus on domestic more and here they are cutting the stuff...

 

[Nasty Naz]

That's a significant development. Are PCB worried more players will go freelance hence expanding the pool of centrally contracted players and hiking pay ?

By slashing the mens domestic contracts, I fear more players will feel disincentivised to play FC cricket, pull out of the system and go overseas to play English league cricket or in the USA as some have already done, further diminishing the standard of an already weak FC setup.

The PCB's wasteful expenditure has been criminal. The money spent on the Champions Cups (now discarded after one season) and the mentors should've been allocated to paying domestic cricketers properly.

How much of the cut is due to a drastic decrease in the number of FC teams which had led to a bloated number of domestic players playing & being paid. It was like 18 teams in FC, 18 teams in T20 and it looks like FC has been cut down to 8 teams. Unclear if the same will follow suit for T20's.

Too bad the reporting in Pakistan is so poor outside of masala news it's hard for us to ever know or get a breakdown of allocation of their spending domestically.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Easiest job in the world being a national team player, get paid handsomely inspite of poor performances.

staying in a national team is never easy, and many players lose their spot after just one or two poor performances.