Cricket boards don’t all pay the same,some offer fat contracts, others not so much. Match fees, bonuses, and retainers totally depend on the country. And players make hefty money in leagues like the IPL or PSL, but this list is just about what they get straight from their national boards in 2025.
10. West Indies – Nicholas Pooran
- Income: $100,000–$120,000
- Contract Type: Cricket West Indies (CWI) central contract + match fees
- Note: Many top West Indian players prioritize leagues due to limited national payouts.
- He was the highest paid west indian cricketer before his retirement
9. Afghanistan – Rashid Khan / Mohammad Nabi
- Income: $100,000–$150,000
- Contract Type: Afghanistan Cricket Board central contracts
- Note: Rashid earns millions in leagues, but the national board pays modest retainers.
8. Bangladesh – Shakib Al Hasan
- Income: $200,000–$250,000
- Contract Type: BCB central contract + match fees
- Note: Shakib remains Bangladesh’s top contract holder, still active across formats.
7. Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis / Wanindu Hasaranga
- Income: $150,000–$200,000
- Contract Type: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) central contracts
- Note: Earnings have dropped compared to past stars; players now rely on leagues.
6. South Africa – Temba Bavuma / Kagiso Rabada
- Income: $350,000–$400,000
- Contract Type: Cricket South Africa (CSA) retainers
- Note: Some players have turned down national contracts for league flexibility.
5. Pakistan – Babar Azam
- Income: $375,000–$400,000
- Contract Type: PCB Grade A central contract + match fees
- Note: PCB revised salary slabs in 2023, boosting top-tier payments.
4. New Zealand – Kane Williamson
- Income: $450,000–$500,000
- Contract Type: Standard NZC central contract
- Note: NZC contracts are performance-based; Kane also earns via leagues.
3. England – Joe Root / Ben Stokes / Jos Buttler
- Income: £800,000–£1,000,000 (~$1.0–1.25M)
- Contract Type: ECB central contracts
- Note: England offers multi-format retainers with a strong match fee structure.
2. Australia – Pat Cummins
- Income: $2,000,000
- Contract Type: Cricket Australia contract
- Note: CA contracts are among the most lucrative globally, especially for captains.
1. India – Rohit Sharma / Virat Kohli / Jasprit Bumrah
- Income: ₹7 crore (~$820,000) A+ Grade
- Contract Type: BCCI central contract only (excludes IPL earnings)
- Note: While BCCI’s retainer is slightly below CA/ECB, players earn millions in IPL.
Final Word
India, Australia, and England usually lead when it comes to paying big bucks. But even then, most top players make way more from leagues and brand deals. Here though, we’re only talking about their official pay for repping their country.
Written by RITESH SINGH
