LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced major changes to its players’ central contracts system, ending the policy of ‘one system for all’.
The new structure will clearly recognize, prioritize, and protect the distinct identity, importance, and needs of each format, the PCB said in a press release.
The cricket body stated that Test and ODI (dual-format) cricketers will get central contracts in Track AB, the board’s prime category. Track AB will be for Pakistan’s outstanding players who are the foundation of the Test and ODI teams.
Similarly, players dedicated solely to Test cricket will be placed in Track A, aimed at protecting and promoting Test specialists.
Moreover, the central contracts’ Track BC category will include white-ball players, playing only ODI and T20 International.
While T20 International and franchise cricketers will be included in Track D.
لاہور۔ پاکستان کرکٹ بورڈ کے زیر اہتمام مقامی ہوٹل میں کھلاڑیوں کے سنٹرل کنٹریکٹ میں میرٹ بیسڈ اصلاحات سے متعلق خصوصی ورکشاپ
چئیرمین پاکستان کرکٹ بورڈ محسن نقوی کی ورکشاپ میں شرکت
عاقب جاوید نے سنٹرل کنٹریکٹ کے نظام میں نئی اصلاحات کے بارے بریف کیا
مائیک ہیسن نے سنٹرل… pic.twitter.com/su2JG4mSF3
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) June 15, 2026
“This category will be for players who specialize in the shorter formats, who will have more freedom to play franchise cricket alongside national responsibilities,” the PCB added.
The cricket board added that all tracks will be based on two basic principles: first, each player will be compared only with players in their own track. Second, each track will have two internal tiers within which promotion or demotion is possible based on performance.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board will not publicly disclose the number or distribution of contracts in each track,” it added.
Players’ eligibility for getting a central contract
For qualifying for a central contract, the PCB clarified that players will have to go through a three-stage system.
Firstly, a comprehensive medical and fitness assessment will be conducted on each player, which will be aimed at protecting the long-term health and career of the players.
Secondly, it will be mandatory for cricketers to actively participate in domestic cricket to get a central contract. Thirdly, the performance of each player will be closely monitored.
The new framework of the cricket board has been designed to make central contracts more transparent than before, the PCB said.
“Players will be evaluated based on their commitment and performance, and the board will be able to clearly justify every decision. This framework will come into effect from the 2026 contract cycle and will replace the previous system,” it said.
