The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently unveiled its central contracts for the 2025–26 season, a move that has immediately sparked controversy within the cricketing world. For the first time, no Pakistani cricketer has been granted a Category A contract, typically reserved for the nation’s star players.
Stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have been instrumental in Pakistan’s batting, have been demoted to Category B. The PCB cited “inconsistent performances” as the reason behind this change, reflecting a shift towards a performance-driven model. The contracts, effective from July 2025 to June 2026, cover 30 players distributed across Categories B, C, and D. The salary structure is as follows: Category B: PKR 3 million per month (approximately 8.7 lakh), Category C: PKR 1.5 million per month (approximately 4.3 lakh), Category D: PKR 0.75 million per month (approximately 2.1 lakh). Furthermore, the PCB has revised match fees: PKR 1.25 million for a Test, 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 its practice of rewarding its top players generously. India’s 2024-25 annual contracts, effective from October 2024 to September 2025, consist of four categories: A+, A, B, and C. The A+ category (Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja) receives Rs 7 crore annually, Category A (KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant) receives Rs 5 crore annually, Category B (Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer) receives Rs 3 crore annually, and Category C (Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson) receives Rs 1 crore annually. This difference in pay structures not only underlines the financial capabilities of the BCCI but also highlights its strategy of rewarding top performers while encouraging new talent.
The PCB’s decision sends a clear message that performance is paramount for top-tier pay. While it might motivate players, it may also affect team dynamics. With major tournaments such as the Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup fast approaching, it remains to be seen if this strategy will lead to greater consistency or create unrest within the team.