The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this month announced domestic contracts for 90 women cricketers for the 2024-25 season, marking an increase from 79 contracts in the previous season. This pool includes 18 U19 players, 62 emerging players, and 10 Pakistan-capped players.
The aim is to foster a broader talent base and inspire young players to pursue cricket professionally. However, serious concerns surrounding financial support and opportunities cast a shadow over this progress.
The contracts, running from July 2024 to June 2025, were recommended by the Women’s National Selection Committee, which includes Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima. These players will receive monthly retainers, match fees, daily allowances, and a share of prize money.
While this step signals progress, the monthly retainer of PKR 35,000 (approximately USD 125) is lower than Pakistan’s minimum wage for unskilled labor (PKR 37,000). Match fees stand at PKR 20,000 per game (USD 71), leaving players struggling to cover training and other cricket-related expenses.
As understood from Cricbuzz, a domestic player disclosed spending approximately PKR 400,000 annually on cricket-related costs and mentioned being unable to afford a personal trainer. This financial strain often leads to compromises on fitness and professional development, hampering performance and growth, which is evident when the players take the field.
The total budget for women’s cricket remains significantly lower than that of men’s cricket. As revealed by Rashid Latif on X (formerly Twitter), the match fee budget for senior and U19 men’s domestic players alone amounts to USD 390,361, vastly overshadowing the entire women’s cricket budget of USD 250,060 from the previous season.
Senior women cricketers in Pakistan feature in only three domestic tournaments annually, which is a maximum of 31 playing days, including the Final. Even under ideal circumstances, a player can earn a maximum of PKR 1,040,000 (USD 3,700) annually—a sum insufficient to sustain a professional athlete’s lifestyle. For players who do not make the playing XI, match fees drop to PKR 10,000 (USD 35) per game.
This financial disparity, coupled with limited playing opportunities, has led to concerns about the sustainability of women’s cricket careers in Pakistan. When PCB announced central contracts late last month, the omission of regulars Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz, key players in the national team, drew criticism. The delay in issuing these contracts also remains an unanswered concern.
While the PCB’s efforts to expand the talent pool are commendable, addressing financial disparities and increasing playing opportunities remain critical. Without sufficient investment in women’s cricket, aspiring players will and continue to face challenges in developing their skills and sustaining their careers, ultimately affecting the sport’s growth in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s women’s cricket team has faced early exits in almost every major tournament, highlighting their struggles on the international arena. In the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup, they secured only one win against the West Indies, finishing at the bottom of the group stage. Ranked 10th in ODIs, they will need to navigate through the World Cup Qualifiers to advance to the Cricket World Cup later this year in India, the likelihood of which remains very low.
Similarly, during the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan managed a single win against Ireland. In the 2024 edition, they again secured only one victory, this time against Sri Lanka. Most recently, in the 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, they failed to progress past the league stage, missing out on the Super Six round, let alone the knockouts.
Their 10th ranking in ODIs and 8th in T20Is underscores the systemic challenges within Pakistan’s women’s cricket and need for reform—from limited domestic opportunities to insufficient investment—which have hindered their ability to compete consistently at the highest levels.
Pakistan Women’s domestic central contracts:
Aima Saleem Satti, Aimen Anwar, Aleena Masood, Aleena Shah, Aliya Riaz, Aliza Sabir, Amber Kainaat, Amna Bibi, Anam Amin, Anosha Nasir, Areesha Noor, Arijah Haseeb, Arim Barkat, Ayesha Bilal, Ayesha Zafar, Dua Majid, Eisha Naeem, Esha Ali, Eyman Fatima, Fajr Naveed, Fariha Mahmood, Farzana Farooq, Fatima Shahid, Fatima Zahra, Gull Rukh, Hafsa Khalid, Haleema Azeem Dar, Haleema Dua, Humna Bilal, Huraina Sajjad, Iram Javed, Kaynat Hafeez, Khadija Chishti, Laiba Fatima, Laiba Mansoor, Laraib Malik, Maham Manzoor, Mahnoor Aftab, Mehrab Fatima, Momina Riasat, Muqadas Bukhari, Natalia Parvaiz, Neelam Mushtaq, Neha Sharmeen, Nida Dar, Noor Ul Iman, Noreen Yaqoob, Rabia Rani, Rehmat Noreen, Rida Aslam, Subica Shahzadi, Saima Malik, Saiqa Riaz, Saira Jabeen, Samina Aftab, Samiya Afsar, Sana Talib, Shabnam Hayat, Shawal Zulfiqar, Sidra Nawaz, Soha Fatima, Syeda Masooma Jafri, Tahzeeb Shah, Tania Saeed, Waheeda Akhtar, Warda Yousuf, Yusra Ehtesham, Yusra Amir, Zaibunisa Niaz, Zamina Tahir, Zunaira Shah, Zunash Abdul Sattar
Pakistan Women’s U19 Players:
Aleesa Mukhtiar, Areesha Ansari, Fatima Khan, Fizza Fiaz, Haniah Ahmer, Komal Khan, Laiba Nasir, Maham Anees, Mahnoor Zeb, Memoona Khalid, Minahil Javed, Minahil Rafique, Quratulain, Ravail Farhan, Tayyba Imdad, Shahar Bano, Wasifa Hussain, Zoofishan Ayyaz
(Inputs sourced from Cricbuzz)
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