PCB BoG approves Rs15 billion budget for FY2022-23, 78% earmarked for cricket activities

LAHORE (92 News) - The 69th meeting of the PCB Board of Governors, second of the calendar year, took place on Thursday at the National High Performance Centre under the chairmanship of Ramiz Raja.

The following are some of the key decisions taken at the meeting:

The BoG approved an operational activity-based annual budget for its 2022-23 fiscal year.

The PCB has budgeted a total spend of Rs15 billion, with approximately 78 per cent allocated for cricket-related activities. This includes enhanced central contracts for men’s and women’s cricketers, men’s and women’s international and domestic cricket events in the 2022-23 cricket season with additional local tournaments and matches, the Pakistan Super League 8 and the inaugural Pakistan Junior League.

In addition to the operational budget, and looking ahead to the ACC 50-over Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 that will be held in Pakistan, the BoG approved an allocation of funds for the upgradation of the infrastructure and stadia, which includes floodlights, replay screens, player dressing rooms and new spectator chairs.

The BoG, as part of its duty of care towards its staff, also approved management’s recommendation of introducing schooling allowance for lower staff to support their children’s education.

Player Central Contracts

• As part of its strategy to insentivise, reward and encourage its high-performing elite cricketers, as well as to narrow the gap in salaries compared to players of other countries, the BoG approved the following changes in the men’s central contracts structure:
• Separate red and white-ball contracts with increased retainers
• Number of centrally contracted players increased from 20 to 33
• Introduction of Category 'D', which will be comprise players who are staging comebacks or knocking at the doors of international cricket
• 10 per cent increase in match fees across all formats
• Increase in match fee for non-playing members from 50 per cent to 70 per cent of the overall match fee
• Introduction of a captaincy allowance to compensate the team captain for the additional responsibilities that come with that role
• Allocation of an amount for current players with the aim to manage and reduce the workload of elite players and to ensure that they are fully fit, ready and fresh whenever they play for Pakistan
• For women’s central contracts, there will be a 15 per cent increase in retainers across all categories, with a single contract concept. In addition to this, the pool of women’s centrally contracted players may be increased from 20 players to up to 25 players.
• The PCB will shortly announce the list of men’s and women’s central contracts for 2022-23, which will come into effect from 1 July 2022.