Sports Desk
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced an extensive series of reforms aimed at revitalising Pakistan cricket, with a strong emphasis on enhancing grassroots development and improving player performance across all tiers.
As per the meeting led by Chairman Mohsin Naqvi today, under the new initiatives, high-performance centres nationwide are slated for upgrades, with plans underway to establish new centres in Islamabad and Peshawar.
Renowned coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have been enlisted to oversee these pivotal expansions.
Naqvi also announced that former Test cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, alongside current team captains, will join the selection committee.
He noted that the move aims to fortify talent scouting and selection processes in both white-ball and red-ball formats. Naqvi added that every player will now undergo rigorous fitness assessments quarterly, with mandatory participation in domestic cricket leagues.
The revamped one-year central contract structure will link player performance and fitness directly to contract categorisations.
Regarding concerns on player incentives, the PCB has opted to maintain current central contract amounts while introducing stringent guidelines for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs). It is to be noted that only players meeting rigorous fitness and performance criteria will be eligible for international league participation.
The board has also adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards indiscipline, with strict penalties set for any instances of player misconduct or groupings that undermine team unity.
The National Cricket Academy (NCA) plans to appoint dedicated coaches for Shaheens and Under-19 teams, alongside organizing regular tournaments to nurture emerging talent.
Evaluations of domestic contracts will ensure equitable opportunities across all tiers of cricketing talent under the oversight of Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, Usman Wahla, and Nadeem Khan. Earlier, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Monday announced going back to its old model of granting a one-year central contract to the national side’s players, conditional to their performance. Among several decisions taken during a meeting of the board’s top brass, the officials decided against cutting the salaries of the players, who are under fire after their dismal T20 World Cup 2024.
The monthly salaries of the players and their income were under discussion after the Pakistani side failed to live up to the fans’ expectations and crashed out of the tournament before even entering the Super 8 stage.
In a statement, the board said: “The central contract’s tenure will be of a year. The players’ performance and fitness will be reviewed every year. Inclusion of players in different categories will be made under a well-defined process.”
