Multiple Pakistan cricketers want placement in Category C of the upcoming central contracts from the Pakistan Cricket Board, since this specific tier imposes no limits on participating in foreign leagues.

Sources told reporter Saleem Khaliq that these athletes promised officials they will stay ready to play for Pakistan in any format whenever asked, while still pursuing more freedom abroad.

What Category C Offers

The proposed setup dictates that Test team members will not receive no-objection certificates for foreign leagues, though they can play red-ball county cricket and other matches. Individuals in other tiers can join only a restricted count of foreign leagues, whereas Category C members experience zero such limits.

The new PCB layout defines Track C as a tier for focused short-format athletes, granting maximum latitude to pursue franchise cricket around national duty.

T20 specialists will draw a monthly retainer of Rs. 2.6 million or Rs. 2 million based on their tier. Category C athletes will make Rs. 500,000 for each ODI or T20 International, and Rs. 700,000 for each Test when picked. Here is how much players in each category could earn under the proposed contracts.

Leagues Offer Far Bigger Paydays

The top monthly retainer in the proposed deals sits at Rs. 4.8 million, translating to Rs. 57.6 million annually. With match fees and extra payments included, a top athlete could pull in Rs. 80 million to Rs. 90 million every year.

Franchise cricket offers much higher earnings. Saim Ayub supposedly made Rs. 126 million during a single Pakistan Super League season, and athletes joining foreign leagues could take home more than Rs. 200 million to Rs. 220 million yearly.

Restrictions on foreign leagues could therefore cost athletes dearly, explaining why multiple players aim for Category C. The final choice remains with the PCB.

Contracts Still Not Announced

The upcoming central contracts span from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, but remain unreleased. Delays occurred after Pakistan suffered a whitewash during the tour of England.

Adjustments to the initial group of 30 players remain probable, with Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood reportedly facing higher chances of omission.

Athletes in senior tiers A, AB, BC, and C need to play a minimum of four Tests, six ODIs, or six T20 Internationals annually. Category D, meant for rising players, faces no such rule. Every athlete must also participate in domestic matches within their respective formats.