LAHORE: Seasoned Test batsman Asad Shafiq, despite giving better performance with the bat during the last 12 months, was handed category ‘B’ while experienced batsman Shoaib Malik who produced modest show in ODI cricket during the same period was retained in top category ‘A’, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday awarded the central contract to 33 players, divided into five categories for one year starting July 1, 2018.

Six players each are included in the first two categories — ‘A’ and ‘B’ — while nine players are included in category ‘C’ and five in ‘D’. Seven players are in ‘E’, a new category introduced to acknowledge talented cricketers of domestic circuit.

Veteran Test batsman Azhar Ali, 33, has been given category ‘A’. However, the same was not given to prolific middle-order batsman Asad, who is also playing only Test cricket, and gave better performance than Azhar. Azhar, during the last 12 months, featured in five Tests scoring 234 runs while 32-year-old Asad who accumulated 337 in the same number of Tests was awarded with category ‘B’ which the batsman received last year.

Dashing opener Fakhar Zaman, who set a number of records on Pakistan’s recent tour to Zimbabwe, was promoted to ‘B’ category from ‘C’. Fakhar possessing a magnificent career average of 76.07 in ODIs, during the last 12 months or so aggregated 813 ODI runs at a superb average of 81.30 in 14 games. The left-hander during the same period plundered 620 runs in T20 Internationals averaging 33.63.

Only young batsman Babar Azam (category ‘B’ last year) and Sarfraz Ahmed as captain can justify their places in category ‘A’ as performances of all-rounder Shoaib Malik, paceman Mohammad Amir and leg-spinner Yasir Shah in the last 12 months were not very encouraging.

Babar, representing Pakistan in all three formats, collected 180 runs in four Tests, 518 runs in 15 ODIs averaging 57.88 and in 12 T20 matches the right-hander amassed an impressive 489 runs (54.33).

The 32-year-old Yasir, who despite remaining on injury list during most of the last 12 months in which he featured in two Tests and as many ODIs, surprisingly managed to get category ‘A’.

Malik, 36, who is playing only ODIs and T20s after quitting Test cricket back in 2015, could collect 250 runs in 14 ODIs at a moderate average of 31.25. However, the right-hander’s performance remained better in T20 Internationals where he scored 496 at a healthy 62.00 in 17 matches.

Experienced cricketer Mohammad Hafeez, 37, was demoted to category ‘B’. The all-rounder, who last featured in a Test for Pakistan back in 2016, had very modest 12 months in ODIs where he could manage just 231 runs (28.87) in nine innings. In four T20 Internationals during the same period, he totalled a scanty 46 (at 15.33).

Flamboyant fast bowler Hasan Ali and ever-improving leg-spinner Shadab Khan — both of whom produced fine shows in recent months — have been kept in category ‘B’.

Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shan Masood, Imad Wasim are included in category ‘C’.

Meanwhile, the PCB in a press release said that the central contracts selection committee comprising director cricket operations Haroon Rashid, national chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, director academies Mudassar Nazar, recommended the names and PCB chairman Najam Sethi approved the list of players listed with categories.

“The financial year 2017-18 marked the conclusion of a three-year financial formula agreed between the PCB and its players. In concert with players’ representatives, captain Sarfraz Ahmed and senior player Shoaib Malik, the PCB is pleased to inform that it has reached a fresh three-year financial remuneration agreement with its players,” read the PCB press release.

“In the new central contracts, the PCB has raised the monthly remuneration for each of its categories ranging between 25-30 per cent, and has also increased its players match fees by 20 per cent across the categories. An agreed increase will also be given to the players in years two and three of the new agreement,” the PCB added in the press release.

“A new category, ‘E’, has been added to the central contracts to recognise performers on the domestic circuit as well as to encourage the continuing development of emerging cricketers from the junior cricket level,” it concluded.

Central contracts list:

Category ‘A’: Azhar Ali, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir

Category ‘B’: Mohammad Hafeez, Faheem Ashraf, Asad Shafiq, Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan

Category ‘C’: Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan, Shan Masood, Imad Wasim

Category ‘D’: Rumman Raees, Asif Ali, Rahat Ali, Usman Salahuddin, Hussain Talat

Category ‘E’: Bilal Asif, Saad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan, Umaid Asif, Mir Hamza

Published in Dawn, August 07th, 2018

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