PCB Announces Central Contract 2021-22

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the long-awaited central contracts for the men’s cricket team, with promoting wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Hassan Ali to category A after their outstanding performances in the recent series.

Similarly, Fawad Alam, Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, and Mohammad Nawaz and have also been offered central contracts for their contributions and performances in the 2020-21 season.

Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf, who were in the Emerging Category last year, are part of Category C now, whereas youngsters Shahnawaz Dahani, Imran Butt, and Usman Qadir have been placed in Emerging Category.

Players who have been missing out on the central contracts include Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas, Shan Masood, Usman Shinwari, and Naseem Shah.

Yet, they remain determined in the selectors’ plan for the coming season and can earn contracts for the 2022-23 season, depending on the performances during the 2021-22 season.

The PCB released the details of the contracts following the Central Board’s approval of the 2021-22 fiscal year’s budget. The 12-month contracts will be effective from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

“It is an improved and performance-based central contract list 2021-22 of 20 top male cricketers, which includes three emerging cricketers, and match fee across all formats has been the same," as per the statement.

The panel which finalized the list comprised of Director International Cricket Zakir Khan, chief selector Muhammad Wasim and Director, captain Babar Azam and High Performance, Nadeem Khan (who consulted Head Coach Misbah-ul-Haq).

Read more: Nida Dar Becomes The First Pakistani Bowler to Take 100 T20I Wickets

The temporary list was then shared with PCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan before its approval by PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani.