Pay cuts on cards for poor performing national cricket team

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), gravely dissatisfied with the national cricket team’s recent performances, has reportedly decided to scrutinize the players’ hefty pay packages.

The national side’s performance has been dismal in recent months: only one win in three Tests, two victories in 11 one-day internationals (ODIs), and a 50 per cent win rate in 14 T20 internationals.

The national cricket team recently lost a T20 series 1-2 to 10th-ranked Bangladesh and suffered an ODI series defeat against the West Indies, who climbed from 10th to ninth place as a result.

34 years of waiting and a summer of never breaking

Like any West Indian…we fought, we believed, and we rose again.💪🏽 #WIvPAK | #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/vRkWnK5UpH

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 13, 2025

Pakistan now ranks eighth in T20s, while its ODI and Test rankings stand at fifth and seventh, respectively.

No share from ICC revenue

In September 2023, senior players had pressured a former management committee chairman to secure, for the first time in PCB history, a 3pc share from the International Cricket Council (ICC) revenue.

Now, PCB insiders claim that the unhappy board is considering cutting the players’ share from the ICC revenue.

They said legal complexities have prevented the current PCB administration from scrapping the arrangement altogether, but it is expected to be removed from future contracts.

As a result, this year’s central contracts may be the last to include 3pc ICC revenue share.

Shirt sponsorship payments

Additionally, players have also not received shirt sponsorship payments for several months.

While the current contract mandates a share from team logo sponsorship deals after each series, some officials argue no other cricket board offers such separate payments.

PCB to honour existing agreements

On the other hand, sources believe that the PCB would honour existing agreements with the national cricket team players.

It will not change players’ monthly salaries and match fees for the 2025-26 season, as agreed under a two-year understanding.

Moreover, the PCB has increased the retainer budget by 37pc – from Rs854.49 million to Rs1.173 billion – signalling that the existing pay structure will not change.

Players’ earnings

Under the present structure, all categories receive Rs1.257 million for a Test, Rs644,620 for an ODI, and Rs418,584 for a T20.

‘A’ category players earn Rs4.5 million in monthly retainers plus Rs2.07 million from the ICC share, bringing their monthly income to Rs6.57 million.

The amounts decrease progressively for ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories, with ‘D’ players receiving Rs1.267 million a month.

Last year, 25 players were awarded central contracts. This year, the number is expected to rise to 30, but the payments will likely be reduced.

The new contracts are expected to be announced later this month.

Women cricketers get pay raise

Last week, the PCB awarded central contracts to 20 women players in five categories.

Notably, the board increased the compensation of women players in all categories by 50pc.

Top performers including ICC T20I number ranked bowler Sadia Iqbal, along with Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, and Sidra Amin have been placed in Category A – the highest tier.

Alia Riaz, Diana Baig and Nashra Sindhu have been given Category B and Rameen Shamim has been given Category C contract.

In a bid to support and nurture upcoming talent, the PCB has also introduced a new “Emerging Category,” with Iman Fatima and Shawal Zulfiqar named as its inaugural members.