In a surprising move, Test spinner Abrar Ahmed is not part of the central contracts list announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier today.
As per the cricket board, they have successfully negotiated a three-year central contacts deal which will run from July 1 2023 to June 30, 2026. As many as 25 cricketers are offered a momentous deal that will include a portion of ICC revenue. Red-ball and white-ball contracts have been merged.
The 24-year-old has been a notable performer for Pakistan since his Test debut in Multan against England back in December. Since Abrar's debut, he has 38 wickets to his name with an average of 3.63, including two fifers and one 10-wicket per match.
He is currently part of Pakistan's World Cup squad as a travelling reserve alongside Zaman Khan and Mohammad Haris.
Meanwhile, pacer Mohammad Hasnain was not part of the list which includes emerging pacers like Shahnawaz Dahani, Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah in the D category.
The list of players is 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 %
List of players with categories 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.
Centrally contracted players who are playing domestic cricket will be paid 50% of the international match fee. In addition, players will be allowed to play two foreign leagues in each season.
The three-year tenure of the contacts will have its financial model locked for the term. Player performance however will be reviewed after every 12 months. The previous central contract cycle expired on 30 June and the new deal will be deemed effective from 1 July, 2023.
- Abrar Ahmed
