Pakistan Cricket: PCB introduce three new Domestic Tournaments, Dates and Salaries Announced

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the addition of three new tournaments for the upcoming domestic season. The season will span nearly a year, starting in September 2024 and concluding in August 2025. The PCB aims to "bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket" with these competitions.

These new tournaments include a five-team Champions tournament, which will feature Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves. They will compete in the Champions One-Day Cup from September 1 to 29, the Champions T20 Cup from December 21 to January 2, and the Champions Pentagular (first-class cricket) from May 28 to August 5.

Pakistan Domestic Cricket Structure

The PCB will now host three first-class tournaments: the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, President's Trophy, and Champions Pentagular.

Additionally, there will be two List-A tournaments: the President's Cup and Champions One-Day Cup. The three T20 competitions include the National T20 Cup, PSL, and Champions T20 Cup. This expansion increases senior men's matches from 203 to 261.

Waqar Younis is set to take on a significant role at PCB as an advisor on cricket affairs. He will oversee cricketing matters within the board in a capacity similar to Rob Key's role at ECB. Younis was present alongside PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi during a press conference in Lahore where these tournaments were announced.

Pakistan Domestic Cricket Complete List of Tournaments

First-Class: Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, President's Trophy and Champions Pentagular

List A: President's Cup, Champions One Day Cup

T20: PSL, National T20 Cup, Champions T20 Cup

Player Contracts and Match Fees

The PCB has also revised contracts for domestic players. Category 1 players will now receive PKR 550,000, Category 2 players PKR 400,000, and Category 3 players PKR 250,000. Previously, contracts ranged from PKR 300,000 for Category A+ down to PKR 50,000 for Category F.

Match fees have seen a significant increase as well. For white-ball formats, fees have risen from PKR 40,000 to PKR 125,000 for 50-over games and PKR 100,000 for T20 matches. Red-ball cricket match fees have jumped from PKR 80,000 to PKR 200,000.

Focus on Performance

"Our current standings - sixth in Tests, fourth in ODIs and seventh in T20Is - do not reflect the true potential and legacy of Pakistan cricket," said Mohsin Naqvi.

"To restore our rightful place at the top of world cricket, we must innovate and strategically enhance our domestic structure," he added.

The introduction of these tournaments aims to bring together top domestic performers with centrally contracted players. This setup is intended to create an environment that mirrors international cricket intensity.

Each of the five teams may have an owner and a mentor alongside regular coaching staff including a head coach down to an analyst and media manager. Dedicated high-performance centres will be established in Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Sialkot for each team.

The selection process details are yet to be disclosed but around 150 of Pakistan's top players are expected to participate in these tournaments.