LAHORE: Leg-spinner Yasir Shah and wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed were rewarded on Thursday for their impressive show in the form of category ‘A’ as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) handed the central contract to 30 players.

The contracts of categories ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ were given for the term Oct 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.

The PCB has extended the 2015-16 contracts, which started on July 1 last year, for a three-month period — from July 1, 2016 to Sept 30, 2016.

Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad demoted to lowest category ‘D’; Afridi misses out

Both Yasir and Sarfraz had been kept in category ‘B’ when the contracts were announced last year. While Yasir dazzled with the ball, Sarfraz has continued his consistency with bat and gloves behind the stumps and accordingly got the promotion. While both are regarded as crucial players of Pakistan’s Test side, national T20 skipper Sarfraz demonstrates his crisp abilities in limited-overs formats too.

There were some other notable changes in the category of contracts given to a number of prominent players.

Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad, the capricious-cum-flopping youngsters of Pakistan cricket, were demoted to category ‘D’ from ‘C’ and ‘B’, respectively.

Former T20 captain Shahid Afridi, who it seems is slowly and gradually fading from Pakistan cricket scene, could not earn any category of contract. Interestingly, 36-year-old Afridi was in category ‘A’ last year.

A new inclusion in the ‘B’ category contract list is Mohammad Amir who was not the part of central contracts last year when the left-arm pacer was serving the spot-fixing ban.

Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who steered his side to No.1 spot in ICC Test rankings a while ago, ODI skipper Azhar Ali, prolific veteran Test batsman Younis Khan, seasoned opener Mohammad Hafeez and experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik retained their category ‘A’ contracts.

While pacers Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali along with experienced Test batsman Asad Shafiq retained their places in ‘B’ category, Haris Sohail, who has been unfit for the last one year, has also been included in the category.

In category ‘C’, Mohammad Rizwan, Imran Khan Junior, discarded Test opener Shan Masood and lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan kept their places.

Test opener Sami Aslam and middle-order batsman Babar Azam improved their category from ‘D’ to ‘C’. Fast improving all-rounder Imad Wasim, pacer Hassan Ali, Khalid Latif, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Sohail Khan, Anwar Ali and Sohail Tanvir were also named in this category.

Other than Shehzad and Umar, Zulfiqar Babar and Mohammad Asghar are also included in category ‘D’ contract list.Centrally-contracted players:

Category ‘A’: Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz.

Category ‘B’: Rahat Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Amir, Haris Sohail.

Category ‘C’: Mohammad Rizwan, Imran Khan Sr, Shan Masood, Muhammad Irfan, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Hassan Ali, Khalid Latif, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Anwar Ali.

Category ‘D’: Zulfiqar Babar, Mohammad Asghar, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2016