Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said the decision of awarding central contact to Shahid Afridi will be made after observing his performance.

The PCB chief, while talking to DawnNews on Sunday, said despite the fact that Afridi didn’t take part in the fitness test arranged by PCB due to some injury, “our main focus will be on his performance”.

When asked that in the current situation will Afridi be automatically selected for central contract like previous years, Shaharyar said “this decision will be taken by the selection committee”.

The current central contract awarded to players will end on June 30, 2016. Afridi is currently in the A category of players.

Intikhab Alam appointed team manager

The PCB chairman further announced that Intikhab Alam has been appointed team manager for the upcoming tour of England, “since he did a good job recently”.

The decision about hiring a bowling coach will be taken after consultation with newly appointed head coach Mickey Arthur, while the future of batting coach Grant Flower and Grant Luden will also be decided once the PCB officials discuss the matter with Arthur after his arrival to Pakistan, said Shaharyar Khan.

It is pertinent to mention that injuries forced former Pakistan captains Mohammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi to pull out from the team’s fitness camp set to be held the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore from Sunday to Thursday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), through this camp, had decided to test the fitness of all central contracted cricketers ahead of the boot camp at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul which starts May 14.