Rehan Ahmed burst onto the scene during England's Test series win in Pakistan last December. Photo: AP/Farid Khan
Rehan Ahmed will become the first teenager to sign a central contract with the England men's team when a list of new deals is announced, which is close to completion.
Last month, England offered 26 players central positions contracts — 20 of them for more than one year, an unprecedented move — and three more «development contracts».
It is understood that almost all but a couple of those contracts have already been signed, despite a drawn-out process and concerns that players may turn down long-term deals to keep their options open in the lucrative franchise game. The few players who are yet to sign are expected to do so in the coming days.
This means the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Mark Wood will be penning three-year deals with England. Most of Stokes' Test team is now contracted to England until the next Ashes.
Ahmed, 19, was one of 13 players offered a two-year contract and became England's youngest ever player in all three international formats. Over the past year. Since central contracts were introduced at the turn of the century, no teenager has received one.
Ben Foakes retained his England contract despite being dropped from the Test squad ahead of the Ashes but his Surrey teammate Will Jacks, considered a prospect in all three formats and in high demand by the franchise, is perhaps the unluckiest player. player.
As Telegraph Sport previously reported, James Anderson was one of six players offered a one-year contract, but it is worth less than his previous contracts as his career draws to a close. It is also understood that Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali have been offered one-year deals as their international careers are likely to end after next year's T20 World Cup.
A new generation of young fast players — Gus Atkinson, Josh Tong, Braydon Carse and Matt Potts — have signed multi-year contracts. Jofra Archer has also been offered a long-term deal.
In addition to the 26 full contracts that give the ECB control over players' workloads, there are three «development contracts» in place. They went to Matt Fisher, Saqib Mahmud and the untitled but highly respected Hampshire player John Turner. This will essentially see the ECB top up players' contracts with the county and have a say in how much they play.
England will have more players on central contracts than last year. 18 players then received full contracts, and six received additional contracts (which were a supplement to the county's salary). Side trades have now been removed, but there is a large difference between the value of each central contract. For example, top players on three-year contracts can cost more than £800,000 a year, but the cheapest central deal is now thought to cost less than £200,000.
There was a sense of urgency to change the shape of contracts this year in due to the growing popularity of franchise games, but negotiations between players and the board next year will be just as lengthy. The MOU regarding player payments runs for the same time frame as the broadcast cycles, so it can be extended from this time next year.
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