Proposed PCB central contracts could take top Pakistan players to Rs90m a year
LAHORE: Pakistan’s proposed central contracts for the 2026-27 season could take the earnings of top-category cricketers to between Rs80 million and Rs90 million a year once monthly retainers, match fees and other payments are added up.
The PCB central contracts 2026-27 will cover July 2026 to June 2027. According to The Express Tribune, citing sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board has allocated Rs1.1 billion for players’ monthly retainers and match fees under the proposed deals.
PCB central contracts 2026-27: the retainer ladder
The highest proposed monthly retainer is Rs4.8 million for players in the first tier of Category AB, which works out to Rs57.6 million a year before a single match fee is added. Category A Test specialists would receive Rs4 million or Rs3.6 million per month, depending on their tier.
Category BC players would earn Rs3.4 million or Rs2.6 million monthly, while T20 specialists would receive Rs2.6 million or Rs2 million. Category D players, the development tier, would receive Rs1 million per month.
The figures were independently reflected in a second report on the contract framework, which put the top monthly retainers between Rs4.8 million and Rs5 million and the overall allocation at the same Rs1.1 billion.
Match fees on top
Proposed match fees vary by category and format. Category A players would receive Rs1.5 million per Test, Rs650,000 per one-day international and Rs450,000 per T20 international.
Category AB players would earn Rs1.5 million per Test, Rs750,000 per ODI and Rs500,000 per T20 international. Category BC players would receive Rs900,000 per Test and the same white-ball fees as Category AB. Category C players would earn Rs700,000 per Test and Rs500,000 per ODI or T20 international.
With a busy home season ahead, those fees add up fast. Zimbabwe have pulled out of January’s ODI series with Pakistan, with Ireland stepping in for six ODIs, and every white-ball appearance now carries a fee worth several months of an average Pakistani salary.
The league temptation
The numbers also explain why the contracts are politically sensitive inside the dressing room. Overseas leagues can pay far more than the PCB. Saim Ayub reportedly earned Rs126 million in a single Pakistan Super League season, while players in foreign leagues could earn Rs200 million to Rs220 million or more a year.
That gap has reportedly encouraged several cricketers to seek Category C status, which would give them greater freedom to obtain no-objection certificates for overseas competitions. The PCB, however, retains the final say on player categories and on the rules for overseas participation.
How the track system works
The structure is the PCB’s new format-based model, unveiled in June by chairman Mohsin Naqvi alongside head coach Mike Hesson and selector Aaqib Javed. Players are grouped into tracks by the formats they play: AB for Test and ODI cricketers, A for Test specialists, BC for white-ball players, C for T20 specialists and D for emerging talent from the National Cricket Academy. Each of the four senior tracks has two tiers that set the pay.
Eligibility is tied to recent international appearances, and players must clear fitness assessments and meet domestic cricket requirements to qualify.
What delays the announcement
The contracts were briefed to players before the West Indies and England tours, but poor results, including the England whitewash, stalled the process. Reports suggest the announcement will now wait on improved performances in the home season, and that changes to the preliminary 30-player list are likely.
For context on the players in the mix, Babar Azam’s recent form and controversies remain part of the conversation, while Pakistan’s Asian Games triumph over Bangladesh showed the squad’s ceiling when it clicks.
The original reporting on this development was published by ProPakistani, citing The Express Tribune, with corroborating detail from News18.
FAQ
How much could top Pakistan players earn under the proposed contracts?
Players in the top tier of Category AB could earn Rs80 million to Rs90 million a year including the Rs4.8 million monthly retainer, match fees and other payments.
How much has the PCB allocated for the contracts?
The board has allocated Rs1.1 billion for monthly retainers and match fees for the July 2026 to June 2027 period.
What are the proposed match fees?
Category A and AB players would get Rs1.5 million per Test. ODI fees range from Rs650,000 to Rs750,000 and T20 international fees from Rs450,000 to Rs500,000 depending on category.
Why do players want Category C contracts?
Category C, for T20 specialists, comes with fewer restrictions on no-objection certificates for overseas leagues, where players can earn Rs200 million or more a year. The PCB has the final say on categories.
