The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday that it has awarded central contracts for 12 months to 25 players. Among the changes, star bowler Shaheen Afridi has been moved from Category A to Category B, and several notable players have been completely dropped from the contract list.
This decision follows the PCB’s return to a one-year contract model, previously announced in July, which ties contracts to player performance. The board also stated that player fitness will be assessed every three months, and participation in domestic cricket is now mandatory.
According to the new contract list, only Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remain in Category A. Notably, Fakhar Zaman, who was in Category B, has been left off the list entirely. Other players missing out include former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, and Ihsanullah, among others.
Shan Masood, the Test captain, is now categorized in B, contingent on his captaincy. Shaheen’s downgrade follows his and Babar’s absence from the latter Tests in the recent home series against England, after both played in the initial match, which ended in defeat.
Additionally, several emerging talents have received contracts for the first time, like Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan.
It’s worth noting that the central contracts issued last year took effect on July 1, 2023. Reports suggest that Fakhar, Imam, and Osama were excluded due to failing initial fitness tests, but they will undergo another assessment soon, with their inclusion in central contracts dependent on the results. Notably, no player has declined the contract offer.
Central Contracts Breakdown:
– Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan
– Category B: Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood
– Category C: Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan
– Category D: Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Usman Khan
