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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has begun implementing a long-term strategy to create separate squads for Test cricket, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals, with a revamped central contract system serving as the first major step.
Senior selector and head of development at the PCB’s High Performance Centre, Aqib Javed, said the board’s new format-based contract structure is designed to support specialization in modern cricket.
According to Aqib, the increasing demands of international cricket make it difficult for players to excel across all formats, prompting the need for dedicated squads tailored to the specific requirements of Test, ODI, and T20 cricket.
Test and T20 Teams Likely To Be Split First
Aqib explained that separating the Test and T20 setups has become an immediate priority because the two formats require vastly different skill sets and approaches.
“The format-based central contract is the first step towards separating teams for each format. Eventually, every format could have its own dedicated squad,” he said.
The PCB is yet to announce the final list of players who will receive contracts under the new system.
New Contract Categories Planned
The revised contract structure aims to ensure that specialist Test cricketers are not financially disadvantaged compared to players involved in more white-ball matches.
Under the proposed model:
- Test-only players will be assessed against fellow red-ball specialists.
- Top performers in the Test category could earn up to PKR 4 million per month.
- Other contracted Test players may receive between PKR 3 million and PKR 3.5 million monthly.
- Similar performance-based tiers will be introduced for players involved in both Tests and ODIs, as well as those playing ODIs and T20Is.
Eligibility Criteria For Contracts
The PCB has also outlined participation requirements for players seeking central contracts:
Test Category
- Minimum of six first-class matches.
- Eligible for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in overseas four-day competitions.
Test-ODI Category
- May receive permission to participate in one franchise league.
- Salaries could reach PKR 4.8 million per month for top performers.
ODI-T20 Category
- Must play at least two List A matches.
- Required to feature in 10 domestic T20 matches.
- Eligible for two NOCs for franchise tournaments.
T20 Category
- Must participate in domestic T20 competitions.
- Greater freedom to play franchise cricket around the world.
Focus On Format Specialists
Aqib stressed that players developed primarily through T20 cricket cannot be expected to transition seamlessly into the longer format.
“You can’t expect a player who has had his base in T20 cricket and has been playing the format for two or three years to suddenly succeed in Test cricket,” he said.
The PCB’s move reflects a growing trend in international cricket, where several boards are increasingly relying on format specialists as schedules become more crowded and the demands of each format continue to diverge.