PCB changes salary grades under new format-specific contracts | The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced major changes to its players’ central contracts system, introducing a new format-specific structure after abandoning the ‘one system for all’ policy.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the board was moving towards a more data-driven central contracts system, with fitness, domestic performance and format-specific requirements forming the basis of player assessment.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the selection committee had “a lot of work to do” as the board looks to improve Pakistan cricket and bring greater transparency to player contracts.

He said he was unaware if the previous system had been followed for decades, adding that the board was now looking closely at recent performances.

“If this work had been going on for 70 years, then it was not in my knowledge,” he said.

Naqvi said the PCB was reviewing which players had played Test and domestic cricket over the past five years, as part of its effort to make the contracts process more balanced.

The PCB chairman said the new model should not be confused with artificial intelligence; instead, it should be appreciated.

He said the PCB had a responsibility to improve cricket in the country and acknowledged that Pakistan’s performances in tournaments remained a concern.

“It is absolutely our responsibility to improve cricket. Our cricket team’s performance is better in series, but in tournaments, our team collapses. Work is now being done on this,” he added.

Naqvi said he remained in contact with former cricketers and would seek input from all stakeholders for the betterment of the game.

He said the board was also in touch with Younis Khan and other former players.

Naqvi said central contracts had often led to debate in the past, with questions raised over why one player was placed in Category B and another in Category C.

“Earlier, there used to be debate on central contracts over why someone got B and why someone got C,” he said.

“Now, 85% of the central contract has gone into the hands of the computer.”

He said domestic cricket data was being included in the system to make contract decisions more transparent and performance-based.

A statement by PCB stated, “Under the leadership of Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB has announced the introduction of a new and unique structure by making significant changes to its players’ central contracts system.”

The board said the move reflected the changing demands of international cricket, where Test and T20 players can no longer be evaluated under the same criteria.

According to the PCB, the previous “one system for all” approach no longer fits the realities of the modern game, where each format requires a different skill set, workload, career pathway and professional focus.

The new model is aimed at recognising the separate identity and importance of each format, while also protecting the specific needs of players who specialise in Test cricket, T20 cricket or other formats.

“While most cricket boards around the world still place all players in the same categorisation and pit a Test specialist against a T20 franchise player for the same grade, the PCB, under the oversight of Chairman Naqvi, has decided to introduce a model that acknowledges the distinct identity and priorities of each format,” said the statement.