PCB last won an ICC title in 2017, when they won the ICC Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on June 18, 2026, announced new central contracts for the Pakistani players in a revolutionary change for the 2026-27 cycle.
A committee comprising red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has finalized draft contracts for the next cycle, according to a trustworthy PCB source. Rewarding players who participate frequently in Test cricket is a priority for the PCB.
"Their match fees are expected to be around 1.5 million PKR, while their monthly retainer will be in the range of 4 million rupees before taxes. Previously, in the last contracts, players were given a test match fee of around 800,000 PKR," the source said as per the Times of India.
The PCB is introducing format-based central contracts with this new structure. It is anticipated that players chosen for both Track A and Track B, which comprise Test cricket and white-ball formats, will be among the highest paid.
They will probably get monthly retainers of between 4.8 and 5 million PKR in addition to match fees. Attractive performance-based rewards have also been suggested by the board.
The source stated that players will receive a 500 percent bonus on their match fees if Pakistan wins an ICC tournament, while winning an Asian-level event such as the Asia Cup would bring a 300 percent bonus.
The insider also supplied information about the other categories. Players engaged just for Track B, which includes ODIs and T20Is, are set to receive monthly retainers of up to 1.8 million PKR.
Meanwhile, cricketers placed in Track C—a category reserved for players who solely play T20 cricket and franchise leagues—are expected to get monthly retainers ranging from 1.2 million to 1.5 million PKR.
The PCB might also not reveal the names and categories of centrally contracted players. It has already drawn criticism from some quarters and, if adopted, would be a first in Pakistani cricket.
The number of players who will get central contracts under the new format-based system has not yet been disclosed by the PCB.