Following the world cup loss, Pakistan Cricket Board has announced new contracts for the players. As expected, there are quite a few changes with big names missing on the paper. A couple of those big players are Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik.
Although the players could get enhancements in their monthly salaries and match fees, the board has decided now to only award contracts to players who have done well in the last one year and have a future with the Pakistan team.
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In the release, the PCB also clarified that the new contracts have been allocated on the basis of the players’ performance and fitness in past one year. Surprisingly, Sarfaraz Ahmed has been kept in the Category A amid the talks going around over him being axed following a string of poor shows, both with the bat and as a captain.
I want to congratulate players – Wasim Khan
Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik have not been offered contracts but they will remain available for selection, a press release from the PCB said. Other prominent names missing from the latest contract list are Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Rumman Raees, Rahat Ali, Usman Salahuddin and Hussain Talat.
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“I want to congratulate all those who have been offered central contracts for the next season,” the press release quoted PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan as saying. “We have significantly increased the financial value of the 2019-20 retainers across each category. This is over and above what had been agreed in the current agreement, which is due to run until 2021.
“The PCB have set high standards. And also, targets in its strategic plan for the upcoming season. We want to attach a high value to receiving a central contract. We have complete faith and confidence. These players will set-up and produce on-field performances that will help us collectively achieve our objectives and targets.”
The list has been trimmed from 33 to 19 players. However, the contracts for the upcoming season are “significantly” higher in financial value.
The players who have been awarded central contracts are:
Category A: Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Yasir Shah
B-Category: Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq. Mohammad Abbas, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Wahab Riaz
Category C: Abid Ali, Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman. Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood and Usman Shinwari