Pakistan’s centrally-contracted men will soon have to prove they are playing enough international cricket. From 1 July 2026 only those who have featured in at least four Tests, six one-day internationals or six T20 internationals over the previous 12 months will qualify for the top four rungs of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s revised central-contract ladder. The new scheme runs until 30 June 2027.
“The idea is straightforward – reward players who are consistently turning out for Pakistan,” a senior PCB official said during Monday’s unveiling in Lahore. That minimum-appearance clause does not touch the developmental ‘Track D’, reserved for emerging cricketers, but it will apply to every other band.
How the five “tracks” work
• Track AB – cricketers viewed as integral to both Tests and ODIs
• Track A – red-ball specialists
• Track BC – white-ball all-rounders (ODIs and T20Is)
• Track C – T20 specialists
• Track D – pathway players
Each of the first four tracks is split into Tier 1 and Tier 2. The cricketing obligations and the criteria for obtaining no-objection certificates (NOCs) for overseas leagues stay identical inside a given track; only the pay packet shifts.
Money on the table
ESPNcricinfo figures, confirmed privately by several players, suggest the top Test retainers (Track A, Tier 1) will touch PKR 4 million a month, with Tier 2 sliding to PKR 3.6 million. Dual-format stars in Track AB stand to earn PKR 4.8 million (Tier 1) or PKR 3.8 million (Tier 2). White-ball contracts fall to PKR 3.4 million (BC Tier 1) and PKR 2.6 million (BC Tier 2). T20-only men will pocket PKR 2.6 million and PKR 2 million respectively, while pathway talent secures a flat PKR 1 million.
Match fees are layered on top. Both Track A and Track AB receive PKR 1.5 million per Test, though the ODI (PKR 650,000 v 750,000) and T20I (PKR 450,000 v 500,000) rates diverge slightly in AB’s favour. Track BC mirrors AB’s limited-overs fees but drops to PKR 900,000 per Test. Pure T20 operators in Track C get PKR 500,000 whenever they pull on the national shirt.
Selectors may still pick anyone for any format – the categories are administrative rather than binding. Mike Hesson, the men’s white-ball head coach, stressed that point during the media briefing. “If a Track C batter suddenly becomes the next Azhar Ali, nothing stops us selecting him for Tests,” he said. “The contract only reflects where a player is right now.”
Why the overhaul?
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi framed the change as both carrot and clarity. “We wanted a transparent, points-based system, so players know exactly what they must do – and what they will earn – across formats,” he explained. Several senior pros had complained privately that the previous blanket contract left red-ball regulars feeling under-paid compared with globetrotting T20 colleagues.
Former Pakistan quick Aaqib Javed, now PCB director of academies, called the red-ball uplift overdue. “Test cricket remains the pinnacle. If we don’t pay our Test bowlers properly, we can’t moan when they prioritise leagues,” he told reporters.
Industry reaction has been largely positive, though a few agents grumble that the appearance threshold penalises players rested for workload reasons. A senior agent, speaking off the record, noted that “a fast bowler given a six-month break by the board could suddenly miss out on a contract. There has to be some flexibility.”
The PCB insists the policy is not set in stone. “Selection panels have the discretion to recommend exemptions in exceptional cases,” a spokesperson clarified in an email on Tuesday evening.
Room for the youngsters
Track D remains untouched by the new appearance rule. The pathway designation, introduced last year, serves as a safety net for gifted teenagers and late bloomers who might not yet command a senior spot. They keep a flat salary, modest by international standards but sizeable in domestic terms, and can climb the ladder as soon as they meet the qualifying thresholds.
Looking ahead
Pakistan’s next round of contracts will be issued before the players assemble for the two-Test home series against Bangladesh in early July. The selectors must therefore assess performances dating back to July 2025. At present, roughly two dozen players meet the four-Test or six-match white-ball bar, leaving a handful of fringe names sweating on inclusion.
For most, though, the message appears clear. Turn out, perform and the cheque – plus a clearer idea of where you stand – will follow. As Hesson put it, “Play enough cricket for Pakistan and the rest takes care of itself.”
