According to an official statement, the long-standing “one-size-fits-all” approach has been abolished. Instead, players will now be assessed and contracted based on separate pathways for Test, ODI, and T20 cricket, reflecting the evolving demands of international and franchise cricket.

The PCB said the new model is designed to give players clearer roles, targeted incentives, and performance benchmarks based on their respective formats. Each centrally contracted player will be assigned to a dedicated “format pathway,” which will determine responsibilities, expectations, and rewards.

Under the revised structure, traditional A, B, C, and D categories have been replaced with five specialized tracks:

Track AB: Players featuring across both Test and ODI formats, forming the core of the national side

Track A: Specialists focused exclusively on Test (red-ball) cricket

Track BC: White-ball specialists for ODIs and T20 Internationals

Track D: T20 specialists and franchise-focused players

Each track will include two internal tiers, allowing movement up or down based on performance.

A key feature of the new system is dedicated protection and incentives for Test cricketers, who often have fewer financial opportunities compared to white-ball specialists. The PCB stated that this move is intended to strengthen long-format cricket by rewarding red-ball expertise.

For the first time, Test specialists will also be allowed to participate in top-tier domestic red-ball leagues globally, though their participation in T20 franchise leagues will remain restricted.

To qualify for central contracts under the new framework, players must pass three stages:
a comprehensive medical and fitness assessment, mandatory domestic cricket participation, and a detailed performance evaluation.

The PCB said the system will ensure greater transparency and fair comparison by evaluating players only within their designated format groups, eliminating cross-format comparisons that it considers outdated.

The new central contracts framework will come into effect from the 2026 contract cycle, replacing the existing structure entirely.