The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to introduce an updated central contract and payment structure for national players, including rewarding 45 cricketers with “lucrative” central contracts and increasing match fees, according to NDTV. The board’s move follows an earlier PCB announcement that changes how player categories are defined. For the first time, the PCB classifies players based on cricket formats rather than using the traditional letter-based (A to D) categories. With this format-wise system now in place, the older A to D framework is being discontinued. NDTV reports that, under the new arrangement, contract allocations and match-fee amounts are adjusted to reflect the revised categorization and ensure higher payments for matches. The details of specific contract values are not provided in the supplied text, but the reporting indicates the plan covers 45 players and includes a separate increase to match fees. The changes are intended to align player rewards with the board’s new format-based system and update compensation for domestic and international match participation under the PCB’s central framework.