In preparation for the next 2023–2024 season, the Pakistan Cricket Board is currently updating the central contracts 2023-24 for players. The current contracts are expected to expire on June 30, thus the PCB has started discussing establishing new contracts for the upcoming season. The PCB intends to make a number of modifications to the central contracts after speaking with Babar Azam, the captain, and other veteran cricketers. These modifications may result in the promotion and/or demotion of several players.
According to sources, these modifications to the contract could result in a 20% raise in player salary. The list of players under the agreement will be prepared following discussions with the captain and given to the PCB management committee, chaired by Najam Sethi. The PCB is likely to keep up its current policy of awarding distinct contracts for red-ball and white-ball cricket, classifying each into A, B, and C.
Some Players have been excluded from the Central Contracts 2023-24
Due to his retirement, veteran batsman Azhar Ali will no longer appear on the roster of centrally-contracted players as part of the contract revisions. Furthermore, it is expected that central contracts will be terminated for players like Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Abid Ali, Yasir Shah, Nauman Ali, Khushdil Shah, Usman Qadir, and Zahid Mehmood.
On the other hand, it is predicted that players like Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam will stay to be under a contract under Category A. Fast pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are likely to get promotions under their contracts. Particularly, Naseem Shah will be counted in the categories for both red and white balls.
Iftikhar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Ihsanullah, Usama Mir, Mohammad Haris, and Zaman Khan are reportedly among the other players on the contract list. Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed will likely keep his red-ball contract. By the end of June, the PCB hopes to have the players agree to the modified contracts, making an attempt to finish the revised central contracts.
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