Contracts for regional players in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

The PCB will bring in central contracts for regional players in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy from next season, reviving a concept that began under the administration of Nasim Ashraf but had, until now, been dormant due to financial restrictions.

The contracts will be effective from October 1 this year, according to Sultan Rana, director of domestic cricket operations. "There will be contracts for 20 players from each of the 11 regions that will last for six months, covering the entire season," Rana told ESPNcricinfo.

Though the format has often changed, currently the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy includes regional sides such as Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad, as well as departmental teams such as Habib Bank Limited. Players for departmental sides are employed by the organisations and thus receive monthly salaries but historically, regional players have only been given match fees and daily allowances.

"There will be three grades of contracts, A, B and C, though the specific amounts they receive have yet to be finalised," Rana said. Reports have suggested the amounts will range between Rs 10,000 (US $117) and 20,000 (US $233) a month. "We have recently increased match fees for regional players to Rs 10,000 per game so they will get that plus their monthly retainer."

The players will be selected by members of the national selection committee, the regional head coach and another representative from the region, who Rana said must be either an experienced first-class or international player. The money will come from the PCB as opposed to regional associations themselves. The contracts' clauses and conditions will closely mirror those of the national team.

The initial idea had been discussed when Shaharyar Khan and Rameez Raja were chairman and CEO of the board in 2003-04, but its implementation only occurred when Ashraf took over in October 2006. But increasing financial problems meant the concept had to be dropped until now.

"The idea was basically to take ownership of the regional game and give incentives to first-class cricketers who play for regions, so that they make money from the game. Department players are looked after, but regional players also need to be incentivised," Rana said. "The contracts will be performance-based entirely and depend on factors such as fitness, form and so on."