The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently unveiled its central contracts for the 2025–26 season, triggering significant discussion within the cricketing world. In an unprecedented move, no Pakistani cricketer has been awarded a Category A contract, typically reserved for the nation’s top players.
This shift sees prominent players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, key figures in Pakistan’s batting lineup, relegated to Category B. The PCB has cited “inconsistent performances” as the rationale, indicating a stronger emphasis on performance moving forward. The contracts, set to run from July 2025 to June 2026, encompass 30 players distributed across Categories B, C, and D. The new pay structure is as follows: Category B: PKR 3 million monthly (approximately 8.7 lakh), Category C: PKR 1.5 million monthly (approximately 4.3 lakh), and Category D: PKR 0.75 million monthly (approximately 2.1 lakh). Additionally, the PCB has adjusted match fees, with PKR 1.25 million for a Test match, PKR 6.44 lakh for an ODI, and PKR 4.18 lakh for a T20I.
In contrast, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) continues to provide substantial rewards to its leading players. India’s 2024-25 annual contracts, effective from October 2024 to September 2025, feature four categories: A+, A, B, and C. The A+ category receives Rs 7 crore annually (Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja), Category A receives Rs 5 crore annually (KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant), Category B receives Rs 3 crore annually (Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer), and Category C receives Rs 1 crore annually (Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson). This contrast highlights the BCCI’s financial strength and its approach to both rewarding established stars and nurturing emerging talent.
The PCB’s decision underscores a shift where consistent performance is prioritized for top-tier pay. This change might motivate players but could also potentially disrupt team dynamics. With major tournaments, including the Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup, approaching, the cricketing world will observe whether this approach enhances Pakistan’s performance or leads to internal discord.