A significant development has emerged for Pakistani cricketers as the PCB has substantially increased the retainership budget for the national team.
The new budget has now reached approximately PKR 1,173.49 million, reflecting a 37% (PKR 319 million) increase compared to last year. Alongside this, the number of central contracts is also being expanded, with 30 players set to receive contracts this year, up from 25 last year.
Meanwhile, the expenses for men’s domestic cricket contracts have been reduced by 34%, bringing them down to PKR 450 million from last year’s PKR 684 million. However, efforts to promote women’s cricket have been enhanced.
The number of women players under international contracts has risen from 16 to 24, with a 121% increase in their retainership payments from PKR 37.8 million to PKR 69 million. The budget for women’s domestic contracts has also increased by 4% to PKR 37.2 million.
To improve the quality of domestic cricket, the PCB has taken responsibility for the maintenance of 12 additional first-class grounds. New staff will be hired for pitch preparation and maintenance, with a total cost of PKR 93.6 million. Additionally, the board has allocated PKR 444 million for its human resource budget, which will be used for new appointments, salary increases, and other benefits.
Significant progress has also been made regarding the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the budget for Season 11 expected to be finalized soon.
The current budget includes a surplus of around PKR 2.5 billion. Furthermore, PKR 6 billion has been allocated for ongoing development work at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, National Stadium Karachi, and Rawalpindi Stadium, an important investment in the future of Pakistani cricket.
