Lahore, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has incorporated five more players into the men’s central contracts list, escalating the total count to 30 contracted players. This decision follows the three-year contracts announcement made last month, slated to span from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2026.
According to a news release by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Initially, a 25-man roster had been approved by the management committee headed by Najam Sethi. However, following a reassessment under the new chairman, Mr. Zaka Ashraf, additions were made. The freshly inducted players include Abrar Ahmed and Noman Ali, both in Category C, and Tayyab Tahir, Aamir Jamal, and Arshad Iqbal, all in Category D.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, who once captained the national side, experienced an elevation from Category “D” to Category B. Currently, he is Pakistan’s top pick as a wicket-keeper batter in Test cricket. After a triumphant return to the Test team in December of the prior year, Sarfaraz has accumulated 367 runs over four matches, averaging 61.16. His stellar performance, which included three half-centuries and a century in the home series against New Zealand, earned him the “player of the series” title.
Both Category C inductees, Abrar and Noman, have been consistent fixtures in Pakistan’s Test squad in the preceding year. Abrar, a mystery spinner, boasts 38 wickets from six matches since his debut against England in Multan. Concurrently, left-arm spinner Noman has claimed 17 wickets across four matches in the past year.
Aamir, Arshad, and Tayyab, all placed in Category D based on their T20I contributions, remain integral to the national men’s selection committee’s strategies.
The updated contracts roster comprises:
Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category B: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan
Category C: Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Noman Ali
Category D: Aamir Jamal, Arshad Iqbal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan
Additionally, the contracts feature enhanced monthly retainers, incorporating a portion of the ICC revenue into the total monthly compensation. Although the fiscal framework for the three-year contracts remains static, the roster of players will undergo a review after a 12-month duration. The prior contract cycle culminated on 30 June, with the new contracts taking effect from 1 July 2023.