Despite a reduction in the number of teams, leading to a lesser number of matches, in the reformed domestic structure, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will inject over Rs one billion this season. :A heavy chunk from it has been allocated for the welfare of players by providing them unprecedented remunerations, based on enhanced retainers, match-fees, allowances, and prize money which can bring a spike by more than Rs 2million in a player’s bank statement over the course of the upcoming season,” said a spokesman for the PCB on Sunday. As per the new model, the six Cricket Associations will provide year-long contracts to 32 players each to provide them stable income. The 192 contracted players will earn Rs 600,000 per annum on the basis of Rs 50,000 monthly retainers. Previously, the regional cricketers at the first-class level were solely reliant on the match-fees. The PCB, this season, has also bettered their per match remunerations. The players turning out for the Cricket Associations’ second XIs, Under-19s, and city cricket associations will also see a rapid surge in their earnings. The 32 contracted players will also receive daily allowances, along with bed and breakfast in shape of three and four-star accommodations, lunches at the venues and economy-class flights (when traveling inter-province). The prize money for the domestic events has also been increased manifold. The winning prize money for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy has been increased by 233 percent, along with a surge of 150 and 100 percent in the winning prize money for Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament and National T20 Cup. The winners of the country’s premier first-class tournament, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, will be awarded Rs 10million and the runners-up will get Rs 5million. Another Rs 5million will be handed out to tournament’s top-performers and the man-of-the-final will take Rs 50,000 home. The winners of the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament and the National T20 Cup will get Rs 5million, and the runners-up will bag half of it. The man-of-the-final for both tournaments will be awarded Rs 35,000. The top-performers for the apex one-day tournament will get a share from the pool of Rs 250,000. For the T20 tournament, it will be from Rs 100,000. PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said: “The new structure along with enhancing the quality of cricket at the first-class level is designed to improve the earning levels of our domestic cricketers. It is alarming that for such a long time the cricketers at this level were deprived of the income that they rightfully deserve. Our aim is to develop cricket as a career-option for the young and upcoming cricketers. The PCB, along with a focus on first-class players, wants the players at the lower rungs of the structure to take decent earnings home. I am hopeful that this increase in the income levels will not only encourage the cricketers at the periphery to work hard, but will also attract new players to the game.”