LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized the draft framework for central contracts for the 2026-27 season, introducing a new track-based system that categorizes players according to their design expertise, sources told Geo News on Thursday.
Under the proposed model, players placed in Track A, which consists of red-ball specialists exclusively in Test cricket, will receive a monthly retainer of up to Rs4 million.
PCB has prepared a detailed pay structure for all categories.
Players in Track AB, which includes cricketers who represent Pakistan in both Tests and One Day Internationals (ODIs), are expected to earn between Rs 4.8 million and Rs 5 million per month. As a result, players in this category can earn more than 50 million per year through central contracts alone.
Meanwhile, Track PC, which includes white-ball players, is set to pay a monthly retainer of Rs 1.8 million, sources said.
Players placed in Track C, reserved for T20 specialists, will get Rs1.2 million to Rs1.5 million per month.
The proposed structure will also include track D, which will cover development players and cricketers associated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA). People in this category are expected to earn up to Rs.1 million per month.
Sources added that the competition fee would be separate from the central contractual payments. Under the draft scheme, players can get Rs 1.5 million for a Test match, Rs 750,000 for an ODI and Rs 500,000 for a T20 international.
In addition, the PCB has proposed substantial performance bonuses. Players can be awarded a bonus of 500 percent of their match fee for winning an ICC event, while winning an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournament will earn them a 300 percent match fee bonus.
The proposed policy will allow centrally contracted players to continue earning from franchise and league cricket. Permits to participate in domestic and foreign leagues are granted according to the player’s designated contract path.
The PCB is yet to officially announce the central contracts for the 2026-27 season.
Sohail Imran
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