Babar Azam Out for First Test; Salman Agha Named Captain for Pakistan Babar Azam will miss the first Test against England after sustaining an injury during a warm-up match in Beckenham. The injury occurred during a practice session, and the Pakistan captain is expected to be sidelined for the series opener in Leeds. In his absence, Salman Agha has been appointed as the new captain for the ICC World Test Championship series. Pakistan’s head coach, Sarfaraz Ahmed, expressed disappointment over Azam’s injury but remained optimistic about Agha’s leadership capabilities. “Our practice match went really good. We covered all our bases in terms of preparation as a bowling and batting unit both and also won that warm-up game. The spirits are quite high and I have a belief in the whole team that we will do well here,” Sarfaraz stated. He also acknowledged the unfortunate nature of Azam’s injury, noting that the left-handed batsman was hit on the hand. “Hopefully, he will be back for the second match,” Sarfaraz added. The Pakistan team is currently on a three-Test tour of England, with the series serving as the opening fixture of the ICC World Test Championship. The visitors, ranked eighth in the WTC standings, arrived in England following a 1-1 series draw against the West Indies. Over six matches in the current cycle, Pakistan has secured two Test victories and suffered four losses, maintaining a win percentage of 22.22. England, ranked seventh in the standings, have recorded four wins in 13 Tests during the same cycle. The hosts are currently preparing for their next series after a 2-1 home defeat to New Zealand.#england #babar_azam #salman_aghaz #icc_world_test_championship #sarfaraz_ahmed
Pakistan Test Cricketers Get Salary Hikes and Bonuses Under New Central Contracts Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced significant financial upgrades for Test cricketers ahead of the 2026-27 central contract cycle, aiming to prioritize the sport’s longest format. The revised proposals include higher match fees, monthly retainers, and performance-based bonuses for players across different categories. The changes mark a shift toward a format-specific contract system, dividing players into three tracks—Track A for Test specialists, Track B for limited-overs players, and Track C for T20 and franchise cricket participants. Under the new framework, Track A players, who focus on Test cricket, will receive a match fee of approximately 15 lakh Pakistani rupees per game, up from the previous 8 lakh. Their monthly retainers are projected to reach around 40 lakh rupees before taxes. Players who compete in both Test and white-ball formats (Track A and B) will benefit the most, with retainers potentially rising to 48-50 lakh rupees monthly. These figures are part of PCB’s effort to incentivize Test cricket, which has faced declining interest in recent years. The revised contracts also introduce performance-based bonuses. For instance, if the Pakistan team wins an ICC tournament, players will receive a 500% bonus on their match fees. Similarly, a 300% bonus is promised for victories in regional events like the Asia Cup. Track B players, who focus on limited-overs formats, will get a monthly retainer of about 18 lakh rupees, while Track C players, primarily involved in T20 and franchise leagues, will receive 12-15 lakh rupees monthly. A notable aspect of the proposal is the decision to keep player names and categories confidential, a first for PCB.#pakistan_cricket_board #mike_hesson #asia_cup #sarfaraz_ahmed #icc_tournaments
