Cricketers Salary All Countries: Cricket is not just a game anymore—it’s a global money-making machine. With rising viewership and commercial value, players across the world are now earning multi-crore contracts and match fees. But have you ever wondered how much your favorite cricketers actually make from their respective boards?
From Indian stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to Australia’s Pat Cummins and England’s Ben Stokes, the salary structure varies widely. Let’s take a look at the shocking salary figures of cricketers from the top 10 cricketing nations in 2025.
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India (BCCI Central Contract 2025)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled its Central Contract List for the 2024–25 season. Players are divided into four categories:
- Grade A+: ₹7 crore annually (e.g., Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah)
- Grade A: ₹5 crore
- Grade B: ₹3 crore
- Grade C: ₹1 crore
This does not include IPL earnings, brand endorsements, or match fees—meaning the actual income is much higher.
Australia (Cricket Australia 2025 Contracts)
Cricket Australia increased its contract values by 7.5% this year. The average annual salary for a contracted player is ₹8.1 crore.
- Top-tier players (like Steve Smith or Pat Cummins) can earn up to ₹25 crore annually, including match fees and bonuses.
- The pay hike reflects Australia’s strong commercial presence in world cricket.
Pakistan (PCB Central Contracts 2025)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has categorized players into four grades:
- Grade A: ₹1.6 crore annually
- Grade B: ₹1.1 crore
- Grade C: ₹64.5 lakh
- Grade D: Lower than ₹50 lakh
Match fees are paid separately for each format, along with bonuses for performance.
South Africa
South African players’ salaries are performance and experience-based:
- Players with national contracts earn between ₹64 lakh to ₹1.7 crore annually.
- The country has struggled with player retention due to better offers in franchise leagues like SA20 or overseas contracts.
New Zealand (NZC Contract System)
New Zealand Cricket offers a unique 5-year contract model:
- Salaries range up to ₹2.6 crore for top players.
- Promotions and demotions happen based on form and performance.
- The structure also includes provisions for workload management.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has introduced five salary categories:
- Grade A+: ₹84 lakh
- Grade A: ₹67 lakh
- Lower grades go down to around ₹30–40 lakh per year.
- Players also earn bonuses for Test, ODI, and T20 performance.
England (ECB Salary Structure)
England’s central contracts are among the most lucrative in world cricket.
- Top players can earn ₹9 crore annually from their ECB contracts alone.
- Match fees are extra:
- ₹14 lakh per Test
- ₹5 lakh per white-ball match
- With The Hundred and league appearances, England players’ total income skyrockets.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricketers are paid performance-based salaries:
- Top players earn between ₹60 lakh to ₹85 lakh annually.
- Frequent financial and administrative issues in the board have sometimes caused salary delays.
West Indies
West Indies cricketers earn through central contracts and match fees:
- Players in 2 formats: Up to ₹2 crore
- Players in all 3 formats: ₹2.5 crore annually
- Due to financial instability, many prefer global T20 leagues for better pay.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) pays monthly salaries:
- Players earn between ₹1 lakh to ₹2.8 lakh per month
- During tournaments like the T20 World Cup, additional match fees of ₹3 lakh per game are awarded
- Sponsorships and league contracts form a major chunk of players’ actual income.
ByNews-Views: The Cricket Pay Gap is Real
The cricket economy is growing, but so is the disparity in player salaries. Indian and Australian cricketers are miles ahead in financial terms compared to their counterparts in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Afghanistan. While performance and experience matter, the commercial strength of each cricket board is the real game-changer.
As cricket continues to globalize and leagues flourish, expect more cricketers to chase private leagues over national contracts. But one thing is clear—if you’re good enough, cricket can make you a multi-crore celebrity in today’s world.