Pat Cummins has reportedly been offered a lucrative contract extension by Cricket Australia that could boost his annual earnings to around A$4 million (approximately Rs 22 crore) a year as the governing body looks to counter the growing financial power of franchise cricket and the IPL.
According to a report by Australian website The Age, Cummins was offered a deal until 2029 which could be worth almost 12 million Australian dollars (approximately 66 million rupees) over three years if signed.
The proposed extension would reportedly increase the Australian captain’s salary by around A$1 million a year ahead of a demanding international schedule that could see Australia play 21 Tests in 12 months.
Cummins, who is the captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL retained the franchise for Rs 18 crore before the season.
The report also states that Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green are among the Australian players expected to receive better offers.
According to Cricket Australia’s current memorandum of understanding, the men’s average salary is just over A$1 million a year before match fees and pensions. Cummins’ proposed contract is expected to carry more guaranteed money regardless of how much cricket he plays.
Cummins will be 36 when his contract expires in 2029.
PRESSURE TO KEEP UP WITH IPL?
Cricket Australia chief of cricket James Allsopp admitted the governing body was facing increasing pressure from the franchise market, particularly for players capable of playing across formats.
“It’s a really tricky balancing act. One thing we know is that market pressure is coming to the players who have the most commercial value,” Allsopp said.
“Your multi-format players like Pat, Josh (Hazlewood) and Trav, there’s a lot of demand for those players. So making sure they stay committed to Australian cricket is a really big priority.”
Allsopp also emphasized the importance of rewarding players who continue to attract television audiences and viewers.
“It’s a world now where they can jump on the franchise circuit and make a really good living outside of Australian cricket, or even away from our BBL, and that’s not going to be in the best interests of Australian cricket,” he added.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
May 7, 2026 12:22 PM IST
