LAHORE – Pakistan Cricket Board Wednesday announced men’s central contractlists for 2022-23, which comes into effect from Friday, 1 July.
For the first time, the PCB has introduced separate red and white-ballcontracts, while four more players have been added to the EmergingCategory. This means a total of 33 players, 13 more than the previousseason, have received contracts for the next 12 months.
Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam, along with Hasan Ali,Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been awarded bothred and white-ball contracts.
Amongst the 10 players who have received red-ball contracts, Azhar Ali hasbeen promoted to Category A, Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah have beenplaced in Category C for the first time along with Saud Shakeel, who hasbeen awarded Category D.
Fawad Alam and Nauman Ali have been retained in Category B and C,respectively, whereas Abid Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood and Yasir Shahhave been handed Category D contracts.
Eleven limited-over specialists have been awarded white-ball contracts.
Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, who were in Category B in 2021-22, have beenawarded Category A contracts, while Haris Rauf has been promoted toCategory B. Mohammad Nawaz has been retained in Category C.
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Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir have been promoted from Emerging toCategory D where they are joined by first-timers Asif Ali, Haider Ali,Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Zahid Mehmood.
In the Emerging Category, the PCB as part of its strategy to encourage,develop and incentivise up-and-coming domestic performers, has increasedthe number of players from three to seven. Players in the Emerging Categoryare: Ali Usman, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Haris, MohammadHuraira, Qasim Akram and Salman Ali Agha.
Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim: “I want to congratulate all those who haveearned central contracts for the 2022-23 season, especially our fouryounger players who have received red-ball contracts for the first time aspart of our vision and strategy to identify, groom and develop specialistsfor the traditional and purist format of the game.
“I understand there will be a few disappointed players who have missed outon contracts, but I want to reiterate that we are not limiting andrestricting ourselves to these 33 players. As and when required, playersfrom outside the list will be included.
