In light of the ongoing transition period and the impending change in administration, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made the decision to extend the central contracts of players by one month. The contracts, which were initially awarded nearly a year ago, will now conclude on August 1 instead of July 1, providing a brief extension for the players involved.

However, it is worth mentioning that one notable exception to this extension is Azhar Ali, who has recently retired from international cricket. All other players who were awarded central contracts last year will benefit from the one-month extension, giving them additional time under their existing contracts.

With the change in administration, the responsibility of selecting players for the upcoming season's central contracts will fall to the new management.

It is important to highlight that the PCB had initially awarded central contracts to a total of 33 players in different categories of red and white ball cricket on June 30 last year. Prominent players like Captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi were included in the top "A" categories for both formats. Along with the contract extensions, the PCB had also implemented several changes and enhancements to the contract structure.

As part of these changes, a 10% increase in match fees was introduced for players participating in all three formats. Additionally, the fees for non-playing players were raised by 50 to 70%, acknowledging their contribution to the team's success. Moreover, special allowances were introduced for the captain to recognize the additional responsibilities and leadership role.

These measures were taken by the PCB to ensure that players are appropriately compensated and motivated to perform at their best.