Shoaib an A-lister in new PCB contracts
Posted on Jan 06, 2009 at 22:36 | Updated Jan 06, 2009 at 22:42
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Karachi: Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar made the cut for the top category as the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday awarded annual central contracts to 26 players with some surprising omissions.
Saleem Altaf, the Chief Operating Officer of the Board, said the players had been given contracts on basis of seniority and their performances in the international and domestic cricket in last one year.
Previously the contracts were awarded mainly on basis of performances.
Pacer Abdul Rauf, who performed well in the Asia Cup last year and also in domestic cricket, has been sidelined as experienced batsman Asim Kamal while others like Samiullah Niazi, a left-arm pacer, has won the favour of the selectors.
Altaf said all the senior players had been kept in Category A of the contracts after the list of players was finalised by the national selection committee.
For the first time the Board has also given contracts to two uncapped players — batsmen Azhar Ali and Umar Amin — although in the past contracts were only awarded to players who had played for Pakistan.
Altaf also said that despite the financial constraints being faced by the PCB it had not reduced the monthly retainers given to players in the new contracts.
But the Board had decided to reduce the special bonuses given to individuals and team for their performances.
"The board is facing financial crunch due to our limited international commitments last year, especially at home. So the bonuses which were given to players and the team in the previous contract have been rationalised," he said.
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