Despite missing the cut for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Younus landed a contract in the top category along with Afridi. PHOTO: AFP
With the year nearing its half-way mark, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finally announced the list of players who were awarded central contracts for 2013.
Amid calls requesting a pay-bump, the board announced a 15% raise in monthly salaries, while also increasing the Test match fee. No change was, however, made in match fees for One-Day Internationals (ODI) and Twenty20s.
As per the raise, a player in category A will receive a fee of Rs440,000 (increased from Rs385,000) for a Test match appearance, while cricketers in B and C will receive a fee of Rs385,000 and Rs 330,000 (increased from Rs330,000 and Rs275,000, respectively).
“The PCB increased the salaries by 25% last year,” a senior PCB official told The Express Tribune. “An increase of 40% has been made by the board within a couple of years.”
However, many players were still dissatisfied with the pay raise but the official confirmed that nearly all of them have signed the contract.
“All the UK-bound players have signed before leaving and only a couple of others are remaining. But they’re expected to sign soon as well.”
Last year, the PCB included 42 players (21 centrally-contracted and as many players in the stipend category) on its payroll when it announced contracts in May 2012. However, the number increased to 49 by the end of 2012.
This time, the board has included just 30 players, which features 21 centrally-contracted and nine players in the stipend category.
“It’s a comprehensive list in which only potential players have been included,” added the official.
‘Afridi preferred due to seniority’
The official added that international and domestic performances, besides fitness and future value of a player, were the criteria for the central contracts.
However, Afridi, who was sidelined for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to a poor show, emerged as the biggest beneficiary after being retained in the A category. Batsman Umar Akmal and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, however, were demoted.
Former captain Younus Khan was also retained in the top category despite being dropped for the Champions Trophy due to an indecent show in recent ODIs.
“Afridi was preferred due to his seniority and past performance,” said the official, while justifying the decision to include the star
all-rounder in the top category in which six players feature.
Opening batsman Nasir Jamshed was promoted to category B, while left-handed Taufeeq Umar suffered a fall to C.
Kamran Akmal, ignored last year, features in the C category along with fast-bowler Mohammad Irfan and opener Ahmed Shahzad.
Wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who was in category C last year, failed to get a contract. He was placed in the stipend category along with eight other players.
Monthly retainer
Category A: Rs359,375
Category B: Rs251,562
Category C: Rs143,750
Stipend: Rs71,875
Test appearance
Category A: Rs440,000
Category B: Rs385,000
Category C: Rs330,000
ODI appearance
Category A: Rs363,000
Category B: Rs275,000
Category C: Rs220,000
Twenty20 appearance
Category A: Rs275,000
Category B: Rs220,000
Category C: Rs165,000
Central contracts
Category A (5)
Misbahul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Younus Khan, Shahid Afridi,
Category B (8)
Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Malik, Nasir Jamshed, Umar Gul
Category C (8)
Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Aizaz Cheema, Adnan Akmal, Faisal Iqbal, Ahmed Shahzad
Stipend (9)
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Umar Amin, Zulifqar Babar, Asad Ali, Harris Sohail, Anwar Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2013.
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@King khan: Indian players in the category a are getting more than 1 crore indian rupees per year plus the money from IPL + money from endorsements. Rs.440,000 in pakistan currency is equal to Rs. 245470 in Indian currency. so it is indeed penuts.
When u convert it in dollars it becomes awfull salary, it is penuts compared to ipl salary.
Only in Pakistan , you give two senior players (Afridi and Younis) A Category contracts for not performing. Why will they perform now ? Do PCB even think ? PCB please use some common sense.
Afridi and Younus arent even in the 15 man squad for the CT and they've been put in the A bracket! Is this some strange way of saving funds by the PCB? However it is good to see these continual rises. Lets not forget that pakistani players sadly earn peanuts from contracts compared to players from Australia, NZ, SA, India and England