Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Pakistan cricket, including a computerized central contract system, data-driven player selection, higher match fees, and greater emphasis on domestic cricket and player welfare, 24NewsHD TV reported on Saturday.
Speaking informally to journalists at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Naqvi said the PCB had been working intensively on cricket-related matters over the past month and that several key decisions and policies would be finalized within the next two to three days.
He said new policies had been formulated for T20, One-Day International, and Test cricket, while significant progress had also been made on central contracts and the player selection process.
According to Naqvi, player selection is being increasingly systematized and data-based to ensure merit and transparency.
The PCB chief said the board would introduce five central contract categories, including a newly created emerging players category.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited the LCCA Ground in Lahore and met players and coaches participating in the ongoing red-ball camp. He observed training sessions, while Director High Performance Centres Aaqib Javed briefed him on the camp’s fitness and training activities. Mike… pic.twitter.com/zceeXIJQ2S
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) June 13, 2026
He reiterated that players would need to meet established criteria to qualify for contracts and national team selection, adding that performance, fitness, and domestic cricket participation would remain key benchmarks.
Naqvi said the central contract structure would now be computerized, with 15 performance points incorporated into the evaluation process.
He noted that the PCB had previously made it clear that players wishing to retain central contracts must actively participate in domestic cricket.
The chairman also announced increases in match fees across all three international formats, as well as higher payments for domestic cricketers.
He said the board was committed to improving player welfare and would hold consultations with players on Monday before finalizing the reforms.
"We are implementing measures whose benefits will be visible over the next one to two years," he said, adding that more decision-making authority would be delegated to cricket professionals and individuals with strong cricketing knowledge.
Referring to the appointment of Mike Hesson, Naqvi said results had shown signs of improvement under his tenure.
"We may not have won tournaments yet, but we have won series," he remarked.
On the issue of Test captaincy, Naqvi said the final decision would not be made by him personally.
Instead, the matter would be decided by the PCB's cricket management team.
He acknowledged that several factors had contributed to Pakistan cricket's decline over the years, but stressed that efforts were underway to put the game back on the right track.
"My job is to strengthen the institution, provide the best facilities, and make the PCB stronger," he said.
Naqvi also revealed that a building had been acquired for the construction of a players' hostel and that work on the project would begin soon after coordination with a federal government institution.
Speaking on broader national issues, Naqvi expressed concern over the downturn in Pakistan's agriculture sector, calling it a worrying development.
He said rising global oil prices had affected economies worldwide and recalled that fuel prices in Pakistan had once appeared headed toward Rs500 per litre.
"We have managed to keep oil prices under control with great difficulty," he said.
Commenting on politics, Naqvi expressed confidence that the current government would complete its constitutional term, saying there was no reason for concern about political stability.
In a lighter moment, he jokingly remarked that veteran journalist Sohail Warraich had reached retirement age and should consider retiring.
Naqvi concluded by saying that while some decisions may not have produced perfect outcomes, he remained committed to giving professionals a free hand and continuing efforts to strengthen both Pakistan cricket and the country's premier T20 competition, the Pakistan Super League.
Reporter: Rana Aazir