Overview
- The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the new format-track system at a Lahore press briefing on Monday, replacing the old A, B, C and D categories with five tracks that classify players by Test, ODI and T20 specialisation.
- Contract decisions will be weighted 85% to data and analytics and 15% to selector judgement, with each track split into two internal tiers so players are assessed only against others in the same format pathway.
- Eligibility for a central contract will require medical and fitness clearance plus mandatory participation in domestic competitions, and players who skip first-class matches risk losing contract eligibility.
- Test specialists will receive extra protections and incentives, be allowed to play overseas first-class red-ball competitions for development, and face restrictions on participation in franchise T20 leagues.
- The new framework takes effect in the 2026 contract cycle, but the PCB will keep individual player track assignments, contract counts and financial allocations confidential while operational details of the analytics system are finalised.