Overview
- The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the new system on Monday, replacing the old A/B/C/D grades with five format-specific tracks that group players by Test, ODI, white-ball and T20/franchise roles.
- Contract allocation will be 85% data-driven and 15% discretionary, with measurable criteria including fitness tests, mandatory domestic participation, and format-specific performance reviews.
- Players must pass a three-stage qualification of medical and fitness checks, active domestic competition participation, and a performance review to be eligible for central contracts.
- Test specialists gain explicit protections including permission to play overseas first-class red-ball leagues while being restricted from franchise T20s, and T20/franchise specialists have been moved to lower-tier tracks.
- The PCB will not publish how many players sit in each track, a decision that could prompt pushback from players and franchise stakeholders as the board seeks to rebalance incentives and revive Pakistan’s red-ball performance.