PCB Overhauls Department Cricket with Steep Fee Hike, Mandatory Player Contracts

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a sweeping set of reforms for its departmental cricket structure, marking a pivotal moment for the sport in the nation. These changes, which include a nearly threefold increase in participation fees for departments, mandatory year-long player contracts, and enhanced oversight by the board, are set to redefine how departmental teams operate and manage their players. The ambitious overhaul is designed to foster greater professionalism, ensure player well-being, and elevate the standard of domestic competitions.

The Financial Impact: Steep Fee Hikes Introduced

Perhaps the most immediate and impactful change introduced by the PCB is the significant hike in annual participation fees for departments. Grade-1 department sides, traditionally strong contenders like SNGPL and WAPDA, will now be required to pay a hefty PKR 15 million to field their team in the President’s Trophy (first-class) and President’s Cup (List A) for the 2026-27 season, which is scheduled to commence in August. This represents a substantial increase from the previous season’s fee of PKR 5 million, effectively tripling the financial commitment for these teams.

While this considerable increase is expected to create ripples across all participating departments, the PCB asserts that these additional earnings will be directed solely towards covering the operational costs associated with the Grade-1 tournaments. A PCB official clarified that the revenue generated from these fees would not bolster the PCB’s general funds but would instead be allocated to critical expenses such as production costs for livestreaming the tournaments, ground and umpire fees, and player clothing. This move is seen as a necessary adjustment to account for inflation and to ensure the high-quality execution and visibility of these key domestic competitions. Departments playing in non-first-class Grade-II cricket will also face increased fees, with requirements of PKR 4.2 million and PKR 4 million for their participation across two divisions.

Mandatory Contracts and Enhanced Player Welfare

Beyond the financial adjustments, the new PCB policy places a strong emphasis on player welfare and contractual transparency. The detailed three-page document mandates that each department must now provide its players with a minimum of 12-month-long contracts. This measure is a significant step towards ensuring job security and financial stability for domestic cricketers, moving away from more precarious short-term arrangements.

Furthermore, the PCB has outlined specific minimum monthly salaries, match fees, and daily allowances that departments are obligated to pay their players. For Grade-1 teams, the minimum monthly salary is set at PKR 150,000, or a lump sum of PKR 1.5 million for the contract duration. The minimum match fee for a first-class or List-A match is PKR 10,000, complemented by a daily allowance of at least PKR 5,000. Grade-2 teams will compensate their players with PKR 75,000 (Gold division) and PKR 50,000 (Silver division) per month, alongside match fees and daily allowances of PKR 5,000 and PKR 4,000, respectively. All transactions are mandated to be made directly into players’ bank accounts, a measure introduced to prevent underpayment or payment delays, issues that have plagued players in the past, as a PCB official explained. This commitment to direct and timely payments underscores the board’s dedication to protecting player interests and ensuring their well-being.

Enhanced PCB Oversight: NOCs and Guest Players

A crucial element of the new policy is the centralization of authority regarding No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for foreign leagues. Previously, players could obtain NOCs directly from their departments to participate in overseas tournaments, often leading to disagreements and miscommunication. Under the new regulations, the authority to issue NOCs for foreign leagues will rest exclusively with the PCB. This change aims to streamline the process, reduce potential conflicts, and ensure a more consistent approach to player participation in international assignments.

The PCB is also introducing a ‘guest player’ policy to ensure the participation of top talent, including Pakistan men’s national team players and Shaheens (Pakistan A team) members, in domestic tournaments. Each department will be required to integrate additional players into their rosters from a curated pool of over 30 top performers, identified by the national selection committee. These guest players will be allocated to departments, providing valuable playing opportunities and enhancing the competitive quality of the tournaments. This initiative is particularly important given that the PCB has not organized a 50-over tournament for regional sides since the 2023-24 season, and with a departmental one-day tournament still in place, it offers crucial preparation for potential players ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup.

Restructuring Domestic Tournaments and Squad Composition

The operational framework of domestic cricket is also undergoing changes. The PCB has confirmed that department tournaments will be brought forward in the upcoming season, with the first-class President’s Trophy now scheduled to begin in September, a significant shift from its previous December-February window. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, another premier first-class competition, will be played in the October-December window. This re-jigging of the schedule aims to optimize the domestic calendar and provide a more logical progression for players.

Squad composition has also been standardized. Each departmental squad will consist of 20 players, all of whom must clear fitness tests conducted by the PCB. A progressive aspect of the new rules mandates that every squad must include at least two under-21 players who have progressed through the PCB’s under-17 and under-19 tournaments. Crucially, at least one of these under-21 players must be included in the playing XI, fostering youth development and ensuring a clear pathway for emerging talent. It is also important to note that players will be permitted to hold both PCB domestic contracts and departmental contracts simultaneously, allowing for comprehensive support and opportunities.

The Broader Domestic Landscape

Pakistan’s domestic structure traditionally relies on both departmental and regional teams. While departments compete in senior cricket, regional teams, managed by the PCB-affiliated 16 regions, participate in both senior and age-group competitions. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the National T20 Cup are currently contested by regional teams. Until the 2025-26 season, 14 regions fielded one team each from pathways to senior tournaments, with Lahore and Karachi fielding two teams each. However, this structure will evolve with the planned introduction of additional teams from Sialkot and Peshawar, further broadening the talent pool and competition.

In total, 32 teams participated across the four departmental tournaments during the 2025-26 season, comprising eight teams in Grade-1 tournaments and 24 in Grade-II (14 in Gold and 10 in Silver). The new policies are set to impact all these teams, ensuring a consistent and elevated standard across the board.

A PCB media release underscored the importance of these changes, stating, “The eight-team President’s Trophy and Cup will be of critical importance in the coming domestic season with the PCB set to work closely with the departmental teams on a number of fronts to ensure high competition, player development and creating stable and transparent revenue streams for the domestic players.” The implementation of these far-reaching reforms is expected to be a key agenda item in an upcoming meeting between the PCB and departmental representatives, where further details and implications will undoubtedly be discussed.