Photo Credit: Pakistan Cricket Board
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has implemented several measures to uplift the national team, which has been struggling recently. While some of these decisions were made in the past, their implementation has been inconsistent, and it remains to be seen if they will be enforced this time.
During a three-hour meeting at the National Cricket Academy last week, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi decided to make fitness tests and participation in domestic cricket mandatory for international players. It was also decided that central contracts would now be reviewed annually instead of every three years.
These decisions were announced in a news release on Monday, stating that they aim to strengthen the country’s cricket structure and enhance the national team’s performance.
“Participation in domestic cricket is now compulsory for players, with the selection committee finalising the criterion with respect to participation in domestic cricket,” the PCB said in the statement.
The PCB also emphasized zero tolerance for lack of fitness or indiscipline. “Players who meet the standards of fitness and performance will be given the opportunity to progress,” it added. “The PCB chairman emphasised that there will be zero tolerance for indiscipline, and any player violating discipline will face strict action.
“Team unity and harmony are paramount, and players engaging in infighting will not be spared. The management is instructed to take stringent action against any such behaviour.”
The PCB, meanwhile, has accepted the demand of the players for a central contract review annually. The remuneration of the central contract, however, will not change.
“The decision has been made not to reduce the remuneration in the central contract of the national players,” the PCB stated. “The duration of the central contract will be one year, and it will be reviewed annually based on players’ performance and fitness. The inclusion of players in various categories of the central contract will follow a defined procedure.”
Selection committee members, including former batters Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, PCB’s Director International Usman Wahla, and Director of High-Performance Centres Nadeem Khan, will review the central contracts.
The PCB has also instructed players to participate in only two T20 leagues besides the Pakistan Super League as part of workload management. “A technical method for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for playing in leagues will be established, and players meeting the criteria will be granted NOCs,” the PCB stated.
Pakistan’s white-ball and Test coaches, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, have been tasked with presenting a final report on the establishment of high-performance centres in Islamabad and Peshawar. There will also be separate coaches for the Shaheens and Under-19 teams, while the Director of High-Performance Centres has been tasked with improving the performance of the women’s team and reviewing their central contracts.
