Cricketers still waiting on elusive contracts

Last year, cricketers pushed the board to meet their demands. This year, they find themselves waiting for contracts and haven’t received salaries in months.

Poor performance has weakened the players’ bargaining power. The lack of a players’ association has further worsened their situation, leaving them in a vulnerable position.

Babar Azam, who previously led the talks, is now focused on maintaining his position. The team’s continued struggles have left the players at a disadvantage.

Following long negotiations, the PCB had offered central contracts to 25 players last year, which included increased salaries and a 3% share of ICC revenue.

Though the contracts were set to run from July 2023 to June 2026, the players’ poor performance prompted the new management to review the agreements after only one year.

Initially, salary cuts were suggested, but the PCB later backtracked. Despite this, the uncertainty over contracts is causing growing frustration among the players.

Sources say PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is taking a hard line, not giving in to pressure. The players no longer have the same leverage they did before the World Cup.

Salaries for the months of July to October remain unpaid, and the players have been told to wait. Payments from sponsorship logos on shirts have also been delayed.

Some players, speaking anonymously, expressed disappointment, blaming their poor performance for the board’s stronger negotiating position this year.

Babar Azam, normally a key figure in talks with the board, is currently out of form and unable to lead discussions effectively, making it harder for the players to negotiate.

The PCB has imposed strict fitness requirements, with some top players failing recent tests. However, they are being given another opportunity to prove their fitness.

The board is also waiting for the new selection committee to assess domestic players before finalizing contracts, which has contributed to delays in contract negotiations.

A-category players previously earned Rs. 4.5 million monthly, plus their share of ICC revenue, bringing their total earnings to Rs. 6.03 million.

B-category players, such as Sarfaraz Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman, earned Rs. 3 million, which increased to Rs. 4.15 million with the ICC share. Some players were promoted to higher categories.

With C-category players earning Rs. 1.765 million monthly and D-category receiving Rs. 1.1325 million, the total budget for central contracts last year reached Rs. 748.3 million.