LAHORE -As many as 360 cricketers representing 18 re­gional teams will be offered domestic cricket contracts 2023-24. The structure is divided into seven categories; 20 players will be in category A+, 30 in category A, 30 in category B, 30 in cat­egory C and 30 in category D, 50 in category E and 170 slotted in F. 

The PCB will release the names of the con­tracted players in due course. Earlier on 11 August, the PCB had announced the renewed domestic season that brings more competition and quality cricket with enhanced earning op­portunities as eight regional sides and eight de­partment teams will compete in separate first-class tournaments. This step will make sure that the regions and departments compete on a level playing field by utilising the best available talent. 

The domestic structure is framed by the PCB Cricket Technical Committee headed by former captains Misbah ul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez. The committee had several meetings with all stakeholders to bring them on board, including regional presi­dents and representatives of depart­ments. The upcoming men’s season will commence on 10 September with the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy pitting top regional teams against each other, fol­lowing which, top eight departments will feature in the President’s Trophy, starting December 15. Eighteen re­gional sides have been slotted with eight teams playing the premier first-class tournament Quaid-e-Azam Tro­phy while 10 regions will be playing Hanif Mohammad Trophy, a non first-class four-day tournament. 

Twenty players, selected by the re­gions according to the predefined cri­teria, will be assigned categories as outlined below. Each category carries a hefty amount; A+ will get PKR 300,000, A PKR 200,000, B PKR 185,000, C PKR 170,000, D PKR 150,000, E PKR 100,000, F will pocket PKR 50,000. 

As per the new financial model, a player fea­turing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will now get a match fee of PKR 80,000, players participating in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will get PKR 40,000 per game. Those playing the white-ball tournaments - the Pakistan Cup and the National T20 - will now earn PKR 40,000 per game. The non-playing members of a first-class team will get PKR 40,000 and earn PKR 20,000 per match in white-ball cricket respectively. Director Do­mestic Cricket Operations (A) Junaid Zia said: “The Pakistan Cricket Board’s responsibility ex­tends beyond the field, and this step to provide­substantial contracts reflects our dedication to the well-being of our cricketers. “Through this initiative, the PCB is cultivating a brighter future for domestic cricketers, enabling them to focus wholeheartedly on their game and raising the overall standard of our cricket.”