PCB announces men's central contracts list for 2022-23
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Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday announced men’s central contract lists for 2022-23, which comes into effect from Friday, July 1st, and for the first time, the PCB has introduced separate red and white-ball contracts, while four more players have been added to the emerging category, a total of 33 players, 13 more than the previous season, have received contracts for the next 12 months, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a press conference PCB chief selector Mohammad Wasim said that PCB has introduced red ball (10 players) and white ball contracts (11 players) and seven players from the domestic crickets for the 33 cricketers.
Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam, along with Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been awarded both red and white-ball contracts.
📢 𝟯𝟯 players have received contracts in the improved men's central contracts list for 2022-23 📢
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 30, 2022
More details ➡️ https://t.co/esdhUAU8uv pic.twitter.com/CK5Vc2Sacg
Amongst the 10 players who have received red-ball contracts, Azhar Ali has been promoted to Category A, Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah have been placed in Category C for the first time along with Saud Shakeel, who has been awarded Category D.
Fawad Alam and Nauman Ali have been retained in Category B and C, respectively, whereas Abid Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah have been handed Category D contracts.
Eleven limited-over specialists have been awarded white-ball contracts.
Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, who were in Category B in 2021-22, have been awarded Category A contracts, while Haris Rauf has been promoted to Category B. Mohammad Nawaz has been retained in Category C.
Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir have been promoted from Emerging to Category D where they are joined by first-timers Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Zahid Mehmood.
In the Emerging Category, the PCB as part of its strategy to encourage, develop and incentivise up-and-coming domestic performers, has increased the number of players from three to seven. Players in the Emerging Category are: Ali Usman, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Qasim Akram and Salman Ali Agha.
Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim: “I want to congratulate all those who have earned central contracts for the 2022-23 season, especially our four younger players who have received red-ball contracts for the first time as part of our vision and strategy to identify, groom and develop specialists for the traditional and purist format of the game.
“I understand there will be a few disappointed players who have missed out on contracts, but I want to reiterate that we are not limiting and restricting ourselves to these 33 players. As and when required, players from outside the list will be included.
“We have also expanded our category of emerging cricketers from three to seven as it is very important for us to groom those cricketers who have potential to make it to the top level and give an incentive to those players who have excelled in our domestic tournaments.”
He said that PCB will keep on looking for the potential future of the domestic cricketers based on their performances and current form.
“Gates are open for all the players based on their performances for the last 12 months, “he added.
He defended separate contracts for the players. Five players got both contracts including the Capitan Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Chief selector Muhammad Wasim announces enhanced men's central contract list for 2022-23 https://t.co/ybdC08ytLP
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 30, 2022
Hassan Ali got B-category contract for red-ball format and while ball category.
Imam ul Haq got elevated and managed to get the B-category contract.
Azhar Ali got A-category and Fawad Alam got C-category for red-ball format.
Abdullah Shafiq, Naseem Shah, and Noman Ali are part of the Red Ball C-category
Abid Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaun Masood, and Yasir Shah got D-category for the red ball.
Fakhr Zaman and Shadab Khan are in Category-A of the white ball contract.
Harris Rauf got B-category while Muhammad Nawaz Category-C.
Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdal Shah, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Shahnawaz Dhani, Zahid Mahmood, and Usman Qadir are included in Category D.
Usman Ali, Haseeb Ullah, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Huraira, Qasim Akram and Salman Ali Agha has been included in the emerging contract category of the PCB.
Some of the salient features of the new central contracts are:
10 per cent increase in match fees across all formats. Increase in match fee for non-playing members from 50 per cent to 70 per cent of the overall match fee. Introduction of a captaincy allowance to compensate the team captain for the additional responsibilities that comes with that role. Allocation of an amount for current players with the aim to manage and reduce the workload of elite players and to ensure that they are fully fit, ready and fresh whenever they play for Pakistan
RED AND WHITE-BALL CONTRACTS (5):
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (all Category A), Hasan Ali (red-ball Category B, white-ball Category C) and Imam-ul-Haq (red-ball Category C, white-ball Category B)
Category A – Azhar Ali
Category B – Fawad Alam
Category C – Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah and Nauman Ali
Category D – Abid Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah
WHITE-BALL CONTRACTS (11):
Category A – Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan
Category B – Haris Rauf
Category C – Mohammad Nawaz
Category D - Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mehmood
EMERGING CONTRACTS (7):
Ali Usman (Southern Punjab), Haseebullah (Balochistan), Kamran Ghulam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Haris (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Huraira (Northern), Qasim Akram (Central Punjab) and Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab).
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