LAHORE: In a significant boost for domestic cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accorded approval of an increase of PKR one billion in the domestic cricket budget, raising the total allocation from PKR three billion to PKR four billion.
The PCB’s Board of Governors (BoG), which met under the chairmanship of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, also unanimously approved the surplus budget of the board for the financial year 2026–27. It also approved the budget for the 12th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) and endorsed a proposal to grant the league administrative and financial autonomy.
PCB Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza presented a detailed briefing on the budget, highlighting its key features and financial projections for the 2026–27 fiscal years.
The Board approved the new Central Contracts framework and payment mechanism. It also approved an increase in match fees for the Pakistan national cricket team players. A substantial increase in match fees for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy players was also approved, with the fee rising from PKR 30,000 to PKR 100,000 per match. Similarly, the match fee for reserve players was increased from PKR 15,000 to PKR 50,000 per match. The Board further approved the organisation of Women’s One-Day and T20 tournaments and allocated the necessary funds for their conduct.
To strengthen cricket infrastructure and support staff, the Board approved a minimum monthly salary of PKR 42,000 for regional ground staff. It also sanctioned funds to operationalise 12 additional cricket grounds and provide the required human resources.
The meeting approved an allocation of PKR 6.70 billion for the upgradation of the National Bank Stadium, Karachi and other cricket infrastructure projects across the country. Funds were also approved for the installation of a state-of-the-art biomechanics machine at the High Performance Centre in Lahore.
The meeting was attended by Board members Anwar Ghani, Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Ismail Qureshi, Sajjad Khokhar, Tanveer Ahmed and Adnan Malik. Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division, Mir Hassan Naqvi and other officials also attended the meeting.
PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmad Syed, HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer and all PCB Directors were also present.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026