ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made year-long contracts worth at least Rs1.5 million mandatory for cricketers representing departments in the President’s Trophy and President’s Cup (Grade-I), while introducing a comprehensive set of regulations covering player salaries, fitness standards, coaching qualifications, and team administration.
Documents available with The News reveal that every contracted player must receive a minimum monthly salary of Rs125,000 under a 12-month agreement. Besides the annual contract, Grade-I cricketers will be entitled to a match fee of Rs 10,000 along with a daily allowance of Rs 5,000 during the tournament.
The PCB has also outlined strict eligibility criteria for player recruitment. Departments will be permitted to sign cricketers who have represented Pakistan in international cricket or featured in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, President’s Trophy (Grade-I), Hanif Mohammad Trophy, List-A cricket, Pakistan Under-19, Pakistan Shaheens/Pakistan ‘A’, Pakistan Super League, or National Under-19 competitions.
To encourage youth development, every departmental side will be required to include at least one Under-21 player in the playing XI. The player must have been among the top performers in his age category over the last two years.
Departments have also been directed to submit copies of all player contracts, along with details of the team manager, coach, trainer, physiotherapist, and analyst, to the PCB at least 20 days before the commencement of the tournament.
According to the guidelines, the head coach of each team must possess at least a PCB Level-I Coaching Qualification, with preference to those having international or first-class playing experience.
Fitness has also been made a compulsory requirement for participation. All selected players will have to undergo mandatory fitness tests conducted by PCB-appointed trainers at designated venues.
“Only players who successfully pass the fitness test shall be eligible to participate in the tournament,” the PCB said in the regulations.
The Board has also reserved the right to place guest players in any departmental team. Under the policy, international cricketers, Pakistan Shaheens players or any outstanding performer identified by the national selection committee and notified by the PCB’s Domestic Cricket Operations department will fall within the definition of a guest player.
The PCB will provide departments with the list of such players.
In addition, the Board has made it clear that the authority to grant No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for participation in PCB-approved international leagues or any other approved tournaments will remain exclusively with the PCB.
The regulations are aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s premier departmental first-class competitions by ensuring improved financial security for players while raising professional standards in fitness, coaching, and team management.
