PCB revamps pay structure for its domestic cricketers

 

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday unveiled a revamped pay structure for its domestic cricketers, under which the highest performers stand an opportunity of earning Rs 3.2 million through the season, a whopping 83 percent quite last year. Rs 3.2 million over the course of the season will include a monthly retainer of Rs 150,000. before the 2020-21 season, which begins on September 30, the PCB announced a replacement pay structure which can see even rock bottom paid domestic players earn a minimum of seven percent quite what they received within the 2019-20 season. “Once the lowly paid top domestic cricket performers now have the chance to earn as high as Rs 3.2 million, which is 83 percent quite 2019-20, and as low as Rs 1.8 million, still a seven percent increase from what the players within the highest category received last year,” the PCB said during a handout on Tuesday.

“With each of the ten A+ category players to receive Rs 150,000 as monthly retainer for 12 months and a match fee of Rs 40,000 for National T20 Cup and Pakistan Cup each, and Rs 60,000 for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, players maintaining and displaying high levels of professionalism throughout the season will earn Rs 3.2million.” And, this doesn’t stop here. “Players can increase their earnings if they reach the finals, which can guarantee them additional match fee also as share within the prize moneys. Similarly, monthly retainer of D category domestic players is Rs 40,000 but they're going to get an equivalent match fee because the highest category player. This, in turn, means any D category player who features altogether the 30 First XI league matches will earn Rs 1.8million. These numbers will increase if a player’s side reaches the finals as this may mean more matches and share in prize moneys,” added the PCB release.

This earning is quite seven percent of what domestic contracted players received within the 2019-20 season. Last year, all the domestic contracted First XI players had received a flat monthly retainer of Rs 50,000 and match fee of Rs 40,000 for white-ball cricket and Rs 75,000 for red-ball cricket. “The PCB is aware that Pakistan cricketers aren't the highest-paid within the world, but it's our endeavour to slowly and gradually improve their contracts in order that they will get best returns for his or her talent and also plan their futures,” PCB Director High Performance Nadeem Khan said during a statement. “The PCB generates its funds and revenues through cricket and it's appropriate that an outsized chunk of those funds are reinvested into development and cricketers,” he added. He also hoped that the improved pay would introduce a component of competition between these players in pursuit of improved contracts next year.”

The 2020-21 and enhanced monthly retainer structure is:

Category A+ = 10 players, Rs 150,000 per month

Category A = 38 players, Rs 85,000 per month

Category B = 48 players, Rs 75,000 per month

Category C = 72 players, Rs 65,000 per month

Category D = 24 players, Rs 40,000 per month.