Deadlock between PCB and players over central contracts ends

Under the new contract, batsmen scoring a century and bowlers taking five wickets will be awarded Rs325,000

A deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and national cricket team players has ended after the two reached an agreement under which clauses of the central contract will not be changed.

According to reliable sources in the PCB, the players have dropped their demands to be given a bonus for a triumph in every match while the board has agreed to improve their pay scales and also give cash prizes to top individual performances in all three formats.

"In the new contracts that would be announced this week, the players will get around 25 to 50 per cent more in their match fees and central contract monthly retainers," said a source, according to the Press Trust of India.

"And the clauses of the contracts would not be changed and there will be an annual increase of 10 per cent in the players’ retainers and fees," he said.

Under the new set up, there will be no bonus on winning a match; however, bonuses will be granted for winning a series. For example, if Pakistan defeats India or any of the top three International Cricket Council (ICC) ranked teams then the players will get a bonus which will amount to 350 per cent of their match fees.

If the team beats a lower ranked team then their bonus will be equivalent to 100 per cent of their match fees.

The board has stated that for individual performances they will award Rs325,000 to the batsman scoring a century in any format and Rs575,000 if a cricketer scores a double century.

Similarly bowlers taking five wickets in an innings will get a bonus of Rs325,000 and Rs1.1 million for capturing 10 wickets in a match.

Although the previous central contracts granted in 2014 had expired on December 31, due to the World Cup and some other issues with players over negotiations, the board had extended the same contracts for six months.

"The new contracts will be awarded from July 2015 to June 2016," the source added.

Further, it has been decided that all former and present captains will be allotted category A contracts, including Misbahul Haq, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Younus Khan and Muhammad Hafeez.

This article originally appeared on NDTV.