PCB announces historic first-ever Central Contracts for Under-19 Cricketers
By Nawaz Gohar ; The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to award central contracts to Under-19 cricketers for the first time in the country’s history.
The historic decision was announced following a formal meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the Pakistan U19 squad, who recently secured an impressive 3-1 series victory in a four-match Youth One-Day International series against England.
During the interaction, Naqvi met individually with the young players, commending their outstanding performances during the tour. He urged the squad to remain dedicated to hard work and continuously strive for improvement in their game.
Pakistan U19 Head Coach Shahid Anwar welcomed the introduction of central contracts at the junior level, hailing it as a transformative step for boosting the morale of emerging players.
“Rewarding strong performances significantly enhances young players’ confidence,” said Anwar. “The encouragement provided by the PCB Chairman serves as a major source of motivation for both the squad and the coaching staff.”
U19 Captain Farhan Yousuf attributed the team’s ongoing progress to the specialized development camps conducted in Multan over the past two years. He noted that these camps yielded substantial improvements in performance and expressed immense satisfaction over the new contract policy.
“Receiving central contracts at the Under-19 level for the very first time is a matter of immense joy for all of us,” Yousuf remarked.
Young cricketer Aliyan Salman emphasized that the move would bolster the squad’s confidence and allow players to focus on their growth with greater single-mindedness. Teammate Jahangir Bilal highlighted the life-changing impact of the initiative, noting that the contracts would enable young athletes to provide financial stability to their families.
Expressing gratitude to Mohsin Naqvi and the board, squad member Rizwanullah added that the combination of cash rewards and formal contracts serves as unprecedented motivation for the next generation of Pakistani cricketers.
