Mohammad Hafeez expected to receive a new central contract by PCB

Mohammad Hafeez expected to receive a new central contract by PCB

Mohammad Hafeez

After refusing a Grade C retainer a few months ago, veteran Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is expected to be given a new contract in a higher tier by the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB].

Mohammad Hafeez, along with Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir, did not receive a central contract from PCB last year, but he was given a Grade C short term deal earlier this year. However, Hafeez did not consider the proposal because he was unhappy with being included in category C.

Mohammad Hafeez is the only senior player to get a central contract

Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Hafeez

As per a credible PCB source, Hafeez seems to be the only senior player who will be granted the new central contract starting July 1.

“The cricket committee of the PCB will be meeting with the head coach, coaches, and captain of the national team when it returns from Zimbabwe after which the chief selector will sit down with the management and PCB CEO and finalize the list of players to be given the new central contracts,” the source said.

The current contracts expire in June, and the source stated that given the current COVID-19 condition, the board is also considering including financial incentives in players’ contracts for spending extended periods of time in bio-secure bubbles at home and on away tours.

“Hafeez is likely to be offered a new contract in an enhanced category while senior batsman and former captain, Azhar Ali is likely to be demoted from category A to B as he is now playing just one format,” source added.

Mohammad Rizwan to be kept in Category A

Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan, who has recently emerged as Pakistan’s leading batsman in all formats, is expected to be kept in category A. Fawad Alam, who has three Test hundreds since returning to the team last year, was not on the central contract list but was later added in Category C, will now be offered a Category B contract alongside Fakhar Zaman.

“Rizwan was initially named in category B of the contracts last year but earlier this year the board gave him a promotion because of his form and he will be retained in category A. Fawad will get a promotion to category B in new contracts because of his superb performances as will opener Fakhar Zaman who is also presently in category C,” the source added.

The PCB revealed central contracts in three grades for 18 players in May of last year, with three cricketers — Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain — listed in the emerging players class.

In addition to match fees and incentives, the PCB pays players monthly retainers ranging from 1.1 million to Rs 500,000. Players that do not receive central contracts are compensated with match fees and rewards for their appearances but do not receive monthly retainers.

According to the source, the PCB can also consider raising the match fees of players who are now only playing Test matches, such as Azhar ALli Fawad Alam, Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, and others.

Last year, the PCB also unveiled a robust pay system for domestic players, which is outlined below. The new and improved monthly retainer arrangement for 2020-21 is as follows:

  • Category A+ = 10 players, monthly salary of PKR 150,000 (66k INR)
  • Category A has 38 players and pays PKR 85,000 per month (37K INR)
  • Category B consists of 48 players and pays PKR 75,000 a month (33k INR)
  • Category C has 72 players and pays PKR 65,000 a month (28k INR)
  • Category D consists of 24 players and pays PKR 40,000 a month (17.5k INR).

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