The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced a significant salary increase for domestic cricketers as part of its Men’s Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25 plans, a move that promises to boost the earnings of 150 domestic players as well as centrally contracted cricketers.
Unveiled on Monday, the new salary structure is set to benefit players participating in the upcoming season, which runs from September 1, 2024, to August 5, 2025. The season will feature 261 matches across eight senior men’s tournaments.
The PCB’s updated contract structure is designed to recognise and reward top-performing players from the past three years, ensuring a fair and competitive compensation package. The contracts are now divided into three categories:
- Category 1: 40 players will receive PKR 550,000 per month.
- Category 2: 50 players will earn PKR 400,000 per month.
- Category 3: 60 players will be paid PKR 250,000 per month.
This represents a substantial increase compared to the previous season, where domestic contracts ranged from PKR 50,000 to PKR 300,000.
In addition to the higher monthly salaries, match fees have also been significantly increased. Players will now earn PKR 200,000 for red-ball cricket, PKR 125,000 for 50-over games, and PKR 100,000 for T20 matches. This is a considerable jump from last season’s fees, which were PKR 80,000 for red-ball and PKR 40,000 for white-ball cricket.
This initiative by the PCB underscores its commitment to supporting domestic cricket and providing better financial security for players. By enhancing player compensation, the PCB aims to foster greater competition and elevate the standard of domestic cricket in Pakistan.
The PCB’s efforts are expected to encourage more talent to flourish at the domestic level, thereby strengthening the overall cricketing structure in the country.