National central contracts in cricket provide players with steady financial stability and compensation based on their status and performance. These retainers differ significantly between nations depending on the board revenues and cricketing calendars.
Top ten cricket players based on income from their respective national boards are ranked below. These consist of yearly retainer payments as well as bonuses or match fees based on performance. However, the ranking does not take franchise revenue or sponsorships into account.
Babar Azam is among the Pakistan Cricket Board's PCB centrally contracted Grade A players. He makes PKR 4.5 million a month as of 2024-2025, which adds up to PKR 54 million a year, or roughly USD 190,000. Additionally, he makes PKR 838,530 for Tests, PKR 515,696 for ODIs, and PKR 372,075 for T20Is are match costs offered by PCB.
Babar's total yearly income from the PCB, including bonuses and match appearances, can be close to USD 375,000. Despite PCB's generally low pay range, these numbers put him among the highest-paid employees in the subcontinent's central contracts system.
Top male cricket players are paid between USD 200,000 and 275,000 per year by Cricket South Africa CSA. Star bowler Kagiso Rabada earns A match fee of roughly ZAR 150,000 for Test matches, ZAR 60,000 for ODIs, and ZAR 40,000 for T20Is. Rabada makes about USD 375,000 every year depending on participation. Despite CSA's financial difficulties, their elite players are paid highly for being available in all formats.
The top 20 players in New Zealand Cricket NZC are given central contracts. As a senior and multi-format mainstay, Kane Williamson's central retainer brings in around NZD 500,000 USD 310,000 approx.. Each Test pays around NZD 9,000, each ODI around NZD 4,000, and each T20I around NZD 2,500.
With these match fees and extra bonuses included, Williamson's annual payout from NZC may total up to USD 350,000. Despite being low by international standards, it is still the highest among cricket players under contract in New Zealand. However, it is worthy to mention that Williamson has declined a central contract in 2025 to ensure his availability in franchise-based leagues across the world.
Ben Stokes is a member of the multi-format central contracts group of the England and Wales Cricket Board. The yearly value of these contracts ranges from 850,000 to 1 million USD 1.1 to 1.3 million approx.. Along with performance bonuses, the ECB also offers match fees of 15,000 for each Test, 7,500 for each ODI, and 3,500 for each T20I.
Depending on availability, Stokes' total ECB revenues could surpass USD 1.25 million annually. His position as England's Test captain and regular white-ball player earns him one of the highest retainers in the world of cricket.
Cricket Australia's central contractsare determined by player rankings across all formats. According to reports, Pat Cummins, the Test and ODI captain and top-ranked fast bowler, makes AUD 2 million USD 1.35 million approx. a year. This covers match payments in addition to a base retainer of about AUD 1.5 million.