PCB Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Enhance Domestic Cricket, aiming to revolutionize the country’s cricket ecosystem and bridge the gap with international cricket.
During a press conference at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the board will organize the Champions One-Day Cup, T20 Cup, and First-Class Cup. These tournaments will feature the most talented and consistent domestic performers alongside centrally contracted players.
This initiative follows scrutiny of the men’s team’s poor performances in major events like the Asia Cup 2023 and the T20 World Cup 2024, where Pakistan failed to reach the Super Eight stage.
Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Salman Nasser and Adviser on Cricket Affairs Waqar Younis, emphasized that Pakistan’s current rankings in all three formats do not reflect the nation’s true cricketing potential. The Champions tournaments aim to innovate and strengthen the domestic structure, providing an environment that mirrors international cricket intensity.
The tournaments will include broadcast matches, legendary mentors, elite coaching staff, and extensive media coverage, offering necessary exposure and experience to players. This initiative will rejuvenate the entire cricket ecosystem, establishing a clear pathway from clubs, schools, and universities to intra-district, inter-district, and regional competitions.
“The Champions tournaments will offer our players a platform to experience the rigours and pressures of international cricket right here at home. This is crucial for building a robust and highly competitive domestic structure that consistently produces world-class talent,” said Mohsin Naqvi.
With the addition of the Champions tournaments, the PCB will now organize a total of 261 matches across eight men’s senior tournaments. These events will feature five teams: Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves, playing in a double-league format with around 150 top-performing domestic players from the past three years, along with centrally contracted players.
Each team will have a former Pakistan superstar as a mentor and potentially as an owner, and will be allocated a dedicated regional high-performance center in Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Sialkot.
The Champions One-Day Cup (September 1 to 29) will serve as the season opener for the PCB Men’s Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25, featuring 21 matches. The Champions T20 Cup will be held from December 21, 2024 to January 2, 2025 and the Champions First-Class Cup is scheduled from May 28 to August 5, each with 21 matches.
Enhanced Domestic Contracts
The PCB also announced enhanced domestic contracts for 150 players:
Category 1: 40 players to receive Rs550,000 per month
Category 2: 50 players to receive Rs400,000 per month
Category 3: 60 players to receive Rs250,000 per month
In addition to monthly retainers, players will receive improved match fees:
Rs200,000 for red-ball cricket
Rs125,000 for 50-over matches
Rs100,000 for T20 matches
