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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally increased the players' salaries across all three categories as it prepares to announce the much-delayed central contracts for the year 2012. All three categories will get an increment of 25%, with the match-fees for all three formats making a 10% jump, reports The Express Tribune. Category 'A' players, for example, will now get Rs 313,000 per month and also earn Rs 385,000 for each Test appearance, Rs 330,000 for taking part in a One-Day International and Rs 275,000 for a Twenty20. The same category saw the players earn Rs 350,000 for a Test, Rs 300,000 for an ODI and Rs 250,000 last year. Category 'B' players will now earn Rs 218,000 per month (previously Rs 175,000). A Test appearance will fetch him Rs 330,000 (previously Rs300,000), an ODI Rs 275,000 (previously Rs 250,000) and a Twenty20 appearance will now be worth Rs 220,000 (previously Rs 200,000). Similarly, in Category 'C', a player will make Rs 130,000 per month (previously Rs 100,000). The same player will earn Rs 275,000 for a Test (previously Rs 250,000), Rs 220,000 for an ODI (previously Rs 200,000) and Rs 165,000 for a Twenty20 (Rs 150,000). In addition, a squad member not featuring in the playing-eleven will receive 100% of his match fees. Previously the player was entitled to 50% of the match fees. The increase has come as a welcome relief for the players who have put on an impressive show, after Pakistan remained unbeaten in Test and ODI series last year. The start of 2012 also saw the team inflict a 3-0 whitewash on England in the Test series before Pakistan clinched the Asia Cup for the second time.

Pay raise announced for Pak cricketers