In the past the board has handed out central contracts to the players based on their performance and fitness, however, the new requirement would make fitness the top criteria. -Photo by AFP

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made fitness tests mandatory for its centrally-contracted players, before they are considered for a contract renewal.

Current players are required to undergo the fitness test on Monday and Tuesday with the exception of Umar Akmal, Muhammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal, whose test dates are postponed.

Newly contracted players can also expect an increase in pay scales after three-and-a-half years of no increment.

While the PCB previously issued six-month contracts to 29 players, spread over four categories, the new committee, headed by Iqbal Qasim now aims for a year-long contract for each player.

Although no decision has been made after the meeting last week, there are speculations of Shahid Afridi’s comeback. The former captain had automatically lost his contract in May 2011 when he announced his retirement from international cricket in protest against the board’s decision to replace him as captain of the One Day International (ODI) team.

In the past the board has handed out central contracts to the players based on their performance and fitness, however, the new requirement would make fitness a priority.