The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday introduced separate red-ball and white-ball central contracts for its players with increased retainers but would discourage its elite players from competing in foreign leagues, for which it is ready to pay them compensatory money.

The number of centrally contracted players has been increased from 20 to 33. The Board announced a 10 per cent increase in match fees across formats.

A captaincy allowance has also been introduced to compensate the team leader for the additional responsibilities that come with that role.

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja also announced at a media conference in Lahore that the Board has set up a special fund for current players who get offers for playing in foreign leagues. “We want to discourage our elite players from signing up for additional off-season events. We feel the players are better off not going to these leagues. We will pay them 50 to 60 per cent of the contract amount they are offered.

“This is a very important season for us, we don’t want our players to be burnt out.”

Adil Rashid to leave for Haj

Adil Rashid won’t be available for England’s white-ball series against India next month as the leg-spinner has received clearance from the ECB to make the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Rashid will fly to Saudi Arabia on Saturday. “I’ve been wanting to do it for a little while but I’ve found it pretty difficult with the timings. This year, I felt as though it was something that I had to do, and something I wanted to do as well,” he told ESPNcricinfo.

India take on England in a white-ball series, including three T20Is and as many ODIs from July 7 to 17. Rashid is expected to miss all six games as he is likely to return in mid-July.