Players annoyed at delay in central contracts

PCB official says announcement may be made in a week’s time.

KARACHI: Despite the passage of almost four months since the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contracts expired at the end of 2012, the players are yet to hear anything on the new list much to their frustration.

The delay in announcing the list has annoyed the players who have expressed concerns regarding the matter.

The players worried over the long wait are mainly the ones that have not been a part of the national team in most of the international assignments this year or were a part of the stipend category last time around.

“The delay is distracting us,” a player told The Express Tribune. “Definitely there is a certain level of curiosity on the expected changes which is even affecting our domestic performance.”

Another player said, “The board first stopped us from playing in the Bangladesh league and told us that the Pakistan Super League will compensate for our loss.

“But the PCB-planned league didn’t happen and now the uncertainty on central contracts is adding to our woes.”

The PCB also delayed announcing the central contracts last year with the list being finalised in May. As many as 42 cricketers were included in the board’s payroll in 2012 that included 21 players from the stipend category mostly comprising upcoming talent.

‘Selection committee recommends 40 players’

Meanwhile, an official of the selection committee said that a recommendation of a pool of around 40 players has been made for this year’s list.

“The list will be finalised by the panel for central contracts headed by Javed Miandad [PCB’s Director General],” he said. Another PCB official said the performance during the South Africa tour would be considered.

“This will play a major role in the promotion or demotion of any player, but so far a major change is yet to be made.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2013.