Fitness and discipline will be the top goals from now on. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said no pay cuts for players under criticism but the contract duration is reduced.
In a meeting on Monday, the PCB’s higher authorities have decided to go back to the old model of providing players with a One-year central contract based on their performance and fitness.
Many decisions were taken in the meeting, but the members decided against the highly discussed pay-cut topic of the players under criticism. It is to be remembered that all these initiatives are being discussed after the premature elimination of the Pakistan team from the T20 World Cup 2024.
In a press conference, the board issued the following statement: “The central contract’s tenure will be a year. The players’ performance and fitness will be reviewed every year. Inclusion of players in different categories will be made under a well-defined process.”
The board meeting also concluded the fitness of the players which needs to be checked after every three months. The current salaries of the centrally contracted players are as follows:
Category A Players
Babar Azam: 45 lacs
Shaheen Shah: 45 lacs
Muhammad Rizwan: 45 lacs
Category B Players
Shadab Khan: 30 lacs
Fakhar Zaman: 30 lacs
Haris Rauf: 30 lacs
Naseem Shah: 30 lacs
Category C players
Category C players include players like Imad Wasim and their salaries are around 7.5 lacs to 15 lacs.
Category D Players
Category D players are also paid the same as Category C. This category includes players like Iftikhar and Saim.
These salaries are just a small incentive for the above-mentioned players as they enjoy the perks of match fees and sponsors separately.
Decision Regarding NOCs
The statement went on to say that players who met the conditions would receive non-objection certificates (NOCs) and that a technical procedure for doing so would be worked out.
Recently, several elite players like Babar, Naseem, Rizwan, and others have experienced setbacks since the board refused to provide them NOCs to play in foreign competitions, which is also a source of revenue for them.
“The players’ performance and level of fitness will determine their promotion. There is no room for players who don’t meet the requirements. Additionally, Naqvi assured the gathering that discipline would not be compromised.
The fast bowler Shaheen and batting coach Muhammad Yousuf got into heated confrontations right before the World Cup, during Pakistan’s tour of England, as was revealed last week.
There will be no room for compromise for athletes who do not exhibit self-control. The team should be cohesive and in agreement with one another. Grouping players won’t be accepted,” Naqvi issued a warning.
The head of the PCB declared that players who group should be dealt with harshly and added that authorities should disregard any suggestions made by anyone for an irresponsible player.
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