The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled the monthly earnings of its national cricket team players, showcasing substantial pay hikes across all categories. Top-tier players, including prominent names like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Muhammad Rizwan, are now pocketing an impressive Rs4.5 million each month. This remarkable figure reflects a stunning 202% salary boost from their previous contracts, highlighting the board’s commitment to rewarding top performers.
In the second tier, Category B, notable players such as Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah have also seen significant increases in their monthly earnings. These players now receive Rs3 million per month, which represents a substantial 144% rise. This increase underscores the PCB’s strategy to incentivize and retain talented cricketers within the national setup.
Players in the lower tiers, Categories C and D, haven’t been left behind. Their monthly salaries now range from Rs750,000 to Rs1.5 million, with notable players like Imad Wasim in Category C and Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, and Saim Ayub in Category D. These adjustments reflect increases of 135% and 127%, respectively, ensuring that players across the board benefit from the new financial structure.
The categorization of players is primarily based on their performance, with the latest contracts being announced by the PCB in September last year. This new structure is designed to not only reward current form but also to motivate players to maintain high standards of performance.
Beyond the monthly salaries, players also receive fixed match fees and various match awards across all three formats of the game—Test, ODI, and T20. These additional financial incentives significantly contribute to the overall earnings of the national team players, making cricket not just a passion but a lucrative profession in Pakistan.