Daily Times
July 3, 2021
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) promoted wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Hasan Ali in Category A of central contracts announced for elite 20 players on Friday. The duo join Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi in the top category. The contracts determine pay and other benefits for the 20 players, with the aim of retaining talent in Pakistan. The latest list is also a timely birthday gift for Hasan, who turned 27 on Friday. Hasan missed out on a contract last year through injury, but has made a great comeback in all three formats –– taking 10 wickets against South Africa in February and another nine against Zimbabwe three months later. Rizwan has also been playing well, scoring maiden Test and Twenty20 centuries this year. The PCB has also included three emerging cricketers in the central contracts, in which match fee across all formats has been equalised.
The Pakistan Cricket Board s Cricket Committee held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday. Photo courtesy: PCB
Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Cricket Committee Saleem Yousuf said on Tuesday that playing cricket during the Covid-19 pandemic was one of the biggest contributing factors to the team s dismal performances, according to a press release issued by the cricketing body.
The national team came under heavy criticism recently for its performance during the tour in New Zealand. Pakistan lost the Twenty20 series 2-1 and went down heavily in both Tests.
Speaking during the PCB Cricket Committee s first meeting of the new year, Yousuf said the committee had carried out a holistic but constructive, fact-based and objective review of the Pakistan men’s cricket team in the past 16 months .