(PCB Credit)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted to shorten the duration of the central contracts for its players from three years to one, maintaining the existing pay scale unchanged. This decision was reached during a meeting held on Monday under the leadership of PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi. Also present were Pakistan’s new red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, selectors Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, and other senior officials.
The meeting highlighted the PCB’s intention to implement significant policy reforms following the national team’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s failure to advance to the Super Eight stage after losses to India and the USA prompted this decision.
“The selectors have recommended no change in the financial part of the central contracts which would now be revised into 12-month contracts with players’ fitness, behaviour and form all to be assessed every 12 months,” a board official said.
In the previous year, under the tenure of former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, an agreement was struck with the players that secured them central contracts with clauses and financial terms guaranteed unchanged for a three-year period.
An official disclosed that the PCB has now mandated regular fitness assessments every three months for all centrally and domestically contracted players. These assessments will be overseen by the respective head coaches.
Additionally, it was resolved that stringent technical criteria would govern the evaluation of player applications seeking NOCs to participate in foreign leagues. The primary focus of these guidelines will be to ensure the players’ fitness levels and their availability for national team duties.
“Only (those) players with high fitness and performance criteria will receive NOCs, ensuring a high standard of representation in international leagues,” the official said
During the meeting, a consensus was reached that all players must participate in domestic cricket as a mandatory requirement. Selectors have been tasked with closely monitoring players’ involvement in domestic competitions before considering them for national team selection.
According to the official, all attendees at the meeting unanimously agreed to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards disciplinary issues. Strict penalties will be imposed on instances of players forming factions to ensure team unity and morale are maintained.
Furthermore, plans are in motion to enhance the high-performance centers across the country to strengthen grassroots cricket. New centers are slated to be established in Islamabad and Peshawar, with Gillespie and Kirsten entrusted to lead and oversee these developmental initiatives.
