Shahzad, Wahab lock down PCB contracts in spite of poor show

E-Paper | June 26, 2026

Opener Ahmed Shehzad and fast bowler Wahab Riaz are among the 35 players that have been awarded central contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for year 2017-2018 despite their dismal performances in recent games.

Shehzad, who was in category D, has been promoted to category C as more young players, who have yet to make their international debut, are added in the former category.

Umar Akmal has been did not make the cut after being dropped from the international squad earlier this year.

"A number of young players have been awarded central contracts this year keeping in mind that the national teams in all formats will be going through a transitionary period after a number of retirements from last year’s central contract list," a press release from the PCB said.

The press release claims that contracts were awarded after reviewing the players' performance, fitness and discipline. The number of players awarded central contracts have also increased from 30 to 35.

The monthly retainers of all players have been increased by 10 per cent increase as per a three year understanding between players and the PCB management.

The details of players that have been awarded central contracts are as following:

Category A

Azhar Ali
Shoaib Malik
Sarfraz Ahmed
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Amir

Category B

Babar Azam
Imad Wasim
Asad Shafiq
Hasan Ali

The players were recommended by the Central Contracts Selection Committee comprising Director Cricket Operations, Chairman National Selection Committee, and Pakistan team head coach and approved by Chairman PCB.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

PCB to restrict players from featuring in Afghan T20 cricket league

Nomination of Najam Sethi to PCB Board of Governors approved

Sana Mir becomes first Pakistani woman to play 100 ODIs

H.H Shah

Jul 12, 2017 03:26pm

This is called the PARCHI system Zindabad.

Recommend 0

SADFACE

Jul 12, 2017 03:27pm

Why is Fawad Alam not included in these contracts. He recently hit 130 of 117 balls. Is that not good enough to be selected.

Recommend 0

Fan

Jul 12, 2017 03:29pm

Hafeez and shoaib should be in B category due to their inconsistent performance

Recommend 0

fairy

Jul 12, 2017 03:30pm

mind boggling

Recommend 0

Hassan

Jul 12, 2017 03:41pm

Look at that. No Fawad but Ahmed Shahzad is there. What nonsense!

Recommend 0

global citizen

Jul 12, 2017 03:45pm

shafiq deserves category A contract.

Recommend 0

Shakeeb

Jul 12, 2017 03:53pm

@SADFACE see the score of 5 innings before that. http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/40250.html I like him but he needs to be consistent with that experience.

Recommend 0

Amir

Jul 12, 2017 04:00pm

Shoaib Malik is not a member of the Test team, why is he included in the A category. Also he is an inconsistent performer in the shorter formats, he only performs against minnows including West Indies.

Recommend 0

Sara

Jul 12, 2017 04:12pm

Ahmed Shehzad, Wahab Riaz should not be there arpt all,,, and Imad Waseem is good for nothing he should be in D category

Recommend 0

Shahid

Jul 12, 2017 04:16pm

Do not waste precious resources on questionable hopes and hopefuls.

Recommend 0

Abro

Jul 12, 2017 04:20pm

Parchi mafia

Recommend 0

Miss

Jul 12, 2017 04:21pm

Why Fakhar is in C category?

Recommend 0

Vaseem Siddiqi

Jul 12, 2017 04:22pm

Hafeez and Shoaib do not deserve to be in A category given their inconsistent performance. They should be in C category.. Babar Azam should be in A category. Imad Wasim should be in C category. Ahmed Shehzad, Wahab Raiz, Shan Masood and Rahat Ali do not deserve central contract at all, what have they achieved or done for the national team recently? Junaid Khan should be in B category. I agree Fawad Alam should have been given contract, at least in D category. Ruman Raees should possibly been in C category.

Recommend 0

AKRAM

Jul 12, 2017 04:38pm

@SADFACE I remember a ODI in Bangladesh where Fawad literally can't put bat on ball. What credentials does he have to deserve a central contract?

Recommend 0

Desi

Jul 12, 2017 04:43pm

Everyone is trying to get rid of Nawaz Sharif for corruption, but corruption, nepotism and favoritism is embedded in every organization in Pakistan. Inclusion of Wahab Riaz and Ahmed Shahzad is a classic example of favoritism at the expense of some deserving players. There has to be a revolution to cleanse the country of corruption. Getting a handful of politicians is good, but it will not eliminate the cancer which has already spread through the country.

Recommend 0

imran

Jul 12, 2017 04:43pm

M.Hassan in D category....not even C that shows clearly he don't have any back power who can promote him Even C. he clearly deserve B or least C

Recommend 0

Arslan Rafique

Jul 12, 2017 04:48pm

what is the salary under each category?

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jul 12, 2017 04:52pm

Well done green-shirts. Keep it up and hang on tough. Strive hard to say in shape, keep on training hard and don't ever let complacent attitude and mindset even come close to you. May God Almighty bless you all. Aameen, Tsum Aameen.

Recommend 0

Saad Nasir

Jul 12, 2017 05:07pm

Conspiracy against Fawad Alam yet again. Wahab and Shahzad's should have been out of the pakistan cricket scene, then again it's pakistan we're talking about. All hope lies in the hands of the younger lot.

Recommend 0

Azam Chowdhry

Jul 12, 2017 05:22pm

Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, and Fawad Alam ignored by lousy selection committee again. Why??????????

Recommend 0

Ali

Jul 12, 2017 05:30pm

This categorical selection clearly shows that our system is not fair and transparent. Even a lay man can identify as to which player should fall in which category but not PCB?

Recommend 0

Swiss Ishfaq Mir

Jul 12, 2017 05:55pm

Where Is Fawad Alam how sad and corrupt PCB

Recommend 0

AMK US

Jul 12, 2017 06:19pm

Alas that Sihirjeel's fabricated ouster is tried to be cemented here with continued inclusion of Shehzad. Sethi's gimmickry. No place for Wahab and Shehzad in team anymore. If we continue with this tinkering, we will send Pak cricket o same abyss, that Sarfaraz Andrew young guns are trying to pull us out of.

Recommend 0

Syed Wasim Ali

Jul 12, 2017 06:26pm

Fawad should be in the list. At the minimum, the selectors SHOULD talk about why he doesn't belong here. Wahab Riaz should be on the bench at the minimum. At the moment, all other bowlers are doing better than him. The numbers are the proof.

Recommend 0

AMIR- KARACHI WALA

Jul 12, 2017 06:29pm

Why Shoaib Malik and Azhar Ali in A? Why? They are not performing on regular basis.

Recommend 0

AMIR- KARACHI WALA

Jul 12, 2017 06:30pm

Fakhar Zaman should be in B, not C

Recommend 0

Imran

Jul 12, 2017 06:42pm

So unfair with Umar Akmal. How can you give central contracts to likes of Umar Amin and Shan Masood and many others but not Umar Akmal. Ruman Raees deserves c category. Poor and unjust selection.

Recommend 0

nafis

Jul 12, 2017 06:42pm

That's why we need Imran khan to clean up all the "Sifarshi" peoples

Recommend 0

Imran

Jul 12, 2017 06:48pm

What has Shan Masood done to be selected in C?

Recommend 0

Ahmar Zia

Jul 12, 2017 07:08pm

Is there any way we can possibly get rid of Wahab, Shoiab and Ahmed Shahzad?

Recommend 0

Sam

Jul 12, 2017 07:15pm

Sad how everyone who does not agree with selection calls it sifarshi or parchi, this is how Pakistani people operate and they need to be more "positive" when criticizing. Ask yourself this questions, when someone does not agree with you and call you cheat, how would that feel? :)

Recommend 0

solomon the king

Jul 12, 2017 07:40pm

surprised that we still want the faded star wahab to hang around, while the selfie macho boy has no place or number to play at. Go boys go, before you are pushed out.

Recommend 0

Shefali_uk

Jul 12, 2017 08:19pm

It's not what you know or how good you are its 'who' you know that generally gets you a contract. Remember the days of the likes of Ehteshammudin....

Recommend 0

Sab se pehle pakistan

Jul 12, 2017 08:35pm

Imad Wasim (Parchi) should have been in category C or D. Mohammed Nawaz who is a far better bowler, fielder and batsmen is in Category D which is surprising. Why in the world Ahmed Shazad was given a contract is beyond mt comprehension.

Recommend 0

A.Rehman

Jul 12, 2017 09:04pm

I think Wahab Riaz is very sourceful man who is always in contract inspite of poor performance. Beside him tjhe other 2 old should be sent home to make place for youngester.

Recommend 0

Hyder

Jul 12, 2017 10:11pm

Sir Good riddance of Akmal brothers and hope Ahmed Shahzad, Wahab Riaz and Muhammad Hafiz will be out by next term. Thanks

Recommend 0

Ghalib Ghalib

Jul 13, 2017 12:23am

Absolutely Disgusting.

Recommend 0

Sherry

Jul 13, 2017 12:37am

@global citizen, he got way more than he deserves. A complete non-performer and should have been dropped to D

Recommend 0

Jul 13, 2017 04:08am

@ H.H Shah - correct ! what has Ahmed shehzad and wahab has done to deserve this promotion?

Recommend 0

Absar Ahmad

Jul 13, 2017 05:16pm

@Sara I agree with you, Imad is good for nothing. He is not even a full bowler neither he is a proper batsman.

Recommend 0

Nawaz Sharif

Jul 14, 2017 12:43am

This can't be real, Ahmad Shezad still in contracts? and No umar Akmal? Fkhar Zaman and Fahim Ashraf in Category C? No Respect for Talent.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Resecurity partners with BankIslami Pakistan to enhance digital risk monitoring and cyber threat intelligence

The partnership marks a significant step in strengthening BankIslami's cybersecurity posture through cutting-edge intelligence capabilities.

Alif Holdings hosts Real Estate CEOs Conference with Bilal Yaseen live podcast by Mansoor Ali Khan

Topics expected to be discussed include housing policy, urban development, investment confidence, infrastructure planning and the future outlook of Pakistan’s real estate industry.