Zaka Ashraf suggests adding two more players to central contracts list

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The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday announced that it has successfully negotiated a three-year central contacts deal with its senior players that will run from July 1 2023 to June 30, 2026.

As many as 25 cricketers will be offered a momentous deal that will include a portion of ICC revenue. However, Test spinners, Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed, were notably absent from the list. Furthermore, former Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, found himself placed in the D category.

In an interview with a local news channel, PCB Management Committee chairman, Zaka Ashraf, reassured that deserving players would be duly recognized and incorporated into the central contracts.

Addressing concerns about the omission of Nauman and Abrar, Zaka commented, "I came to know that few players are not there (in central contracts) and they complained about that." He further emphasized, "If there is any injustice done with Sarfaraz or any other player, there will be rectified."

Ashraf also clarified that the selection committee and team management were responsible for determining the list of players, who were handed the central contracts.

The list of players will be divided into four categories with significant increases in monthly retainers. Revenue from ICC will be incorporated in overall monthly remuneration.

Category A (3 players): 202 %

Category B (6): 144 %

Category C (2): 135 %

Category D (14): 127 %

Below is the list of players with categories who are being offered contracts:

Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Category B: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan

Category C: Imad Wasim and Abdullah Shafique

Category D: Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan

Players’ match fees will also see a major hike: 50% increment in Test, 25% in ODI and 12.5% in T20I.

The previous central contract cycle expired on 30 June and the new deal will be deemed effective from 1 July, 2023.