The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled new central contracts that have ignited considerable discussion among fans and cricket analysts.

For the first time since the introduction of central contracts, no player has been awarded a Category A deal, a decision attributed to the team’s recent performances.

While discussions about player promotions and demotions are expected to dominate social media, the PCB has confirmed significant pay increases for players in Categories C and D.

Cricketers in Category C will now earn Rs2.5 million per month, an increase of Rs500,000 from last year’s Rs2 million.

Those in Category D will receive Rs1.5 million monthly, up by Rs300,000 from the previous Rs1.2 million.

Players in Category B, however, will not see any increase, continuing to earn Rs3 million per month.

The 30 contracted players are evenly split among Categories B, C, and D, with 12 new entrants joining the ranks, including Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, and others.

On the other hand, eight players who held contracts last season have been dropped, including Aamir Jamal and Kamran Ghulam, all previously in Category D.

As discussions continue regarding the PCB’s criteria for awarding contracts, the new pay structure aims to enhance financial incentives for a broader talent pool.

With team management now focusing on separate squads for different formats, this contract framework may influence future agreements.