Babar, Hasan, Imam, Rizwan, and Shaheen receive both red and white-ball contracts. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Ahmed got a demotion to the D category. PCB announced the men’s central contract on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
RAWALPINDI: PCB Chief Selector Mohammad Wasim unveiled the men’s central contract lists for 2022-23 on Thursday. Contract awarding red and white-ball contracts to Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imamul Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi. The contract will go into force on Friday, July 1st.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has implemented distinct red and white-ball contracts for the first time. Four new players were included in the Emerging Category. This indicates that 33 players have signed contracts for the following 12 months. It is 13 more than the previous season.
Azhar Ali has upgraded to Category A among the ten players who have won red-ball contracts. While Abdullah Shafique and Naseem Shah have put in Category C for the first time, Saud Shakeel has handed Category D. Fawad Alam and Nauman Ali are still in Categories B and C, respectively. While Abid Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, and Yasir Shah’s contracts are in Category D.
Emerging Players Category
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s inclusion in the core contracts has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the rationale behind the decision when the former captain is underperforming. Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, who were in Category B in 2021-22, are now in Category A. While Haris Rauf promoted to Category B. Mohammad Nawaz kept in Category C.
Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir have promoted from Emerging to Category D, joining first-timers Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Zahid Mehmood.
The PCB has expanded the number of players in the Emerging Category from three to seven. Ali Usman, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Qasim Akram, and Salman Ali Agha are among the players in the Emerging Category.
Salient features of new central contracts:
- 10 percent increase in match fees across all formats
- Increase in match fee for non-playing members from 50 percent to 70 percent of the overall match fee
- Introduction of a captaincy allowance to compensate the team captain for the additional responsibilities that come with that role
- Allocation of an amount for current players to manage and reduce the workload of elite players. To ensure that they are fully fit, ready and fresh whenever they play for Pakistan.