June 01, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1428

LAHORE, May 31: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to also consider players’ seniority as one of the criteria for awarding them the next central contract. The PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi told reporters on Thursday that besides performance, fitness and discipline, seniority would also be considered for deciding the category of a player’s central contract.

Shafqat added that 20 players would be presented the central contract, to be given from July 1.

The PCB had suspended the players’ central contracts soon after Pakistan’s shocking exit from the 2007 World Cup.

The PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, after attending the last ad hoc committee meeting, had categorically said that performance and not seniority would be considered in giving players the next contract.

“Every player will receive equal amount (of money according to the contract) and there will be no senior or junior, but handsome amounts will be given to those who will score a half-century, century, take five (or more) wickets or to an individual who will give a match-winning performance,” the PCB boss had said.

But it seems the PCB has bowed to the senior players and has revised its stance regarding players’ contracts.

Asked if former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq would also be given the contract Shafqat asserted that it all depends on the recommendation of the national selection committee.

Meanwhile, Shafqat said an Australian security delegation would visit Pakistan in July to inspect the security facilities in the country for Australia’s senior and ‘A’ teams.

The senior Australian squad is to tour Pakistan in March next year while the ‘A’ team will visit Pakistan later this year.