Pakistan unveil contracts system

Until now Inzamam's side has relied on match fees

Pakistan's players are to be given retainers of up to £22,600 as part of a new system of central contracts.

Pakistan, the last Test nation to adopt central contracts, has studied models from Australia, India and South Africa.

Twenty top players have been split into three categories based on experience, but will still gain match fees.

"It is finally confirmed that top players will sign central contracts before leaving for Australia," said cricket board spokesman Abbas Zaidi.

"The contracts have been formulated with the consent of the players and everyone will happily sign it."

The move comes four months after arch-rivals India announced their leading players would receive £71,600 per year in new central deals.

Until now Pakistan has relied solely on match fees, with the most senior player, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, earning around £2,300 per one-day international and players on the lowest tier just £575.

Vice-captain Yousuf Youhana hit out at the system earlier this year, saying players were forced to play abroad during the off-season and were left burnt-out as a result.

Local media reports suggested only Inzamam and Youhana had been put in the A category on the basis of having played more than 50 Tests.

Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdur Razzaq and Yasir Hameed were placed in the B category, with the rest in the C category.

Pakistan are preparing for a three-Test tour of Australia and depart this weekend.