PCB to review players’ central contracts

Youngsters to get preference, Malik and Kaneria likely to be sidelined.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may extend the pool of centrally-contracted players by including upcoming youngsters in the list, as it reviews the players’ central contracts.

The PCB awarded central contracts to 19 players in March, with effect from January 2011 and announced that it will review them again in June.

According to a PCB official, chief selector Mohsin Khan will hold a meeting with the board’s chairman Ijaz Butt to review the existing central contracts of players.

“A meeting has been planned to review the central contracts within the next few days,” the official told The Express Tribune.

“The selection committee is working on the list, which will be discussed in the meeting with the PCB chief.”

The PCB – while awarding this year’s central contracts – ignored senior players including former captain Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Rana Navedul Hasan to pave way for newcomers like wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal and fast-bowler Tanvir Ahmed. There are indications that the board may follow the same policy while finalising a new list.

“Youngsters showing promise will get preference,” said the official before adding that the pros and cons of including senior players will also be discussed in detail.

The PCB reduced its pool to 19 players this year from 37 players who were on the board’s pay-scale under various categories including the stipend category.

However, the official said the board may extend the list while awarding new contracts.

“The same policy of assessing players’ future prospects, fitness, performance and discipline will be followed. Players fulfilling the requisites will get the contract.”

Malik, Kaneria’s chances remain slim

Meanwhile, chances of former captain Shoaib Malik and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria getting the central contracts remained slim due to their pending cases before the PCB Integrity Committee.

Both the players were excluded from this year’s list on the basis of ‘suspicion’ of their links with bookies. According to an official, the duo is likely to be sidelined again.

“The cases of the two players are still not cleared,” said the official.

“Both the players are yet to prove their innocence.

“It is not possible to award central contracts to them without categorical clearance.”

Malik, according to the official, was yet to submit a detailed reply explaining his bank transactions, while Kaneria – involved in a match-fixing probe during the county season last year – has also failed to provide the clearance certificates from England.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2011.