Shan Masood Retains PCB Contract 'Subject to Captaincy'; Babar and Rizwan in Top Category
On a positive note, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have made their way back into the contract list after impressive performances against England, with both placed in Category C, though Noman’s inclusion is dependent on his fitness.
In a significant update from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shan Masood has retained his central contract in Category B, but his position is contingent upon his ongoing role as captain. This announcement comes shortly after Masood led the Test team to its first series win since July 2023. The PCB's statement raises questions about the stability of his captaincy, especially following a series of losses in his initial six matches in charge. Speculation continues regarding how long he will remain at the helm, and the PCB's public announcement about the conditional nature of his contract may add pressure during his tenure.
In a surprising turn, Fakhar Zaman has missed out on a central contract for the first time in eight years. Reports suggest concerns over his fitness have played a role, but his relationship with the PCB has also soured. Zaman recently faced scrutiny after posting a tweet criticizing the decision to drop Babar Azam. The PCB issued him a show-cause notice regarding this tweet, which remains unaddressed by Zaman, as he has not issued an apology. The situation is reportedly now in the hands of his legal team.
The PCB continues to adhere to its landmark three-year central contracts established last year, which provided players with substantial pay increases and a fixed share of revenue from the PCB's earnings from the ICC. While the same structure remains in place, the PCB has made adjustments to player categorization based on recent performances. The contracts will be backdated to cover the period starting July 1, 2024, and will last for another 12 months before any further revisions are considered.
Central Contract Categories:
- Category A (2): Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan
- Category B (3): Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood
- Category C (9): Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan
- Category D (11): Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Usman Khan
