Shaheen demoted in new central contract

Several emerging players have secured central contracts for the first time

LAHORE:

Pakistan's left-arm pacer and former captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has been downgraded in the latest central contract announcement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while batter Fakhar Zaman and others did not secure a spot on the 12-month contract list, as per an official PCB release on Sunday.

Shaheen, who was previously in Category A alongside Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, has been moved to Category B in the new list covering 25 players. Babar and Rizwan are now the only two players in Category A, with several prominent names like Fakhar, ex-captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Ihsanullah, and Shahnawaz Dahani excluded from the central contracts entirely.

Previously, Fakhar held a spot in Category B, but recent changes reflect PCB's shift to a one-year contract system based on player performance, introduced last July. Additionally, the PCB has mandated quarterly fitness assessments and required players to participate in domestic cricket.

This decision follows Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they exited the tournament before reaching the Super 8 stage.

The previous three-year central contracts, effective since July 1, 2023, are being replaced in this update. Test captain Shan Masood has been listed in Category B, contingent upon his leadership role.

Shaheen's demotion comes after he and Babar were "rested" for the second and third Tests of the recent home series against England, having participated in the first Test, which Pakistan lost.

Several emerging players, including Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan, have secured central contracts for the first time.

Among those omitted from the contract list, Fakhar, Imam, and Osama were reported to have failed initial fitness tests, with a re-assessment scheduled soon to determine their potential inclusion.

According to the latest central contract details, Category A players will receive Rs 4.5 million per month, with Category B at Rs 3 million. Players in Categories C and D will receive between Rs750,000 and Rs1.5 million monthly.

Centrally Contracted Players List:

Category A (2): Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Category B (3): Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood

Category C (9): Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and 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 and Usman Khan

No Sarfaraz Ahmed

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who has represented Pakistan in 49 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 61 T20 Internationals, has reportedly been given a silent nudge towards retirement after being dropped from the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) central contracts list. This omission is being seen as an indication from the PCB that Sarfaraz may no longer be part of their future plans as an active player.

Sarfaraz, once a favored figure in Pakistan cricket, has gradually found himself distanced from both the national team and official PCB planning. He was part of Pakistan's 15-member squad for the first Test against England, but a committee including Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, and Asad Shafiq decided to send him home along with players like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.

Pakistan's upcoming tour of Australia also sees no place for Sarfaraz, further signaling that he may have played his last international match. His last appearance in a Test was in December 2023 in Hobart, Australia. He played his last ODI against South Africa in 2021 and his final T20 International in Mirpur, Bangladesh, during the 2021-22 season. Additionally, Sarfaraz's name was not listed in the recently announced squads for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier domestic competition.

Although Sarfaraz is among the five mentors appointed by the PCB, his potential retirement could pave the way for more significant roles within the board. There is speculation that post-retirement, Sarfaraz may be offered further responsibilities to support young cricketers, utilizing his vast experience in a mentoring or coaching capacity for Pakistan's future talents.