Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its new batch of central contracts, with notable omissions of former captain Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz. The contracts, which were pending approval for some time, have been awarded to 16 players, with Fatima Sana, the current captain, moving up to Category A.
Dar, who was in Category A last year, and Riaz, who had been demoted to Category B, have been omitted due to concerns about their form and attitude within the team. Eyman Fatima, Anoosha Nasir, Sidra Nawaz, and Shawaal Zulfiqar also miss out on contracts this season, while Bismah Maroof's retirement earlier this year means she no longer features.
The PCB stated that these players will remain available for selection as the board shifts its focus towards developing the next generation of cricketers in alignment with the ICC's Women's FTP (Future Tours Programme) for 2025-29.
Sana's promotion to Category A is a reward for her outstanding all-round performances in the run-up to and at the T20 World Cup in the UAE. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka at the tournament but lost their three other group games to India, Australia, and eventual champions New Zealand.
Muneeba Ali, the wicketkeeper-batter, has also been promoted to Category A, joining Sidra Amin, who retains her position. Gull Feroza and Rameen Shamim return to the central contracts list for the first time since 2018 and 2022-23, respectively, while Tasmia Rubab is included for the first time.
The contracts have been backdated to the end of July, when the previous contracts expired. The delay in the contracts is part of a general trend of upheaval and uncertainty in Pakistan women's cricket, where the PCB has struggled to get projects off the ground, including the long-promised women's PSL.
"The 2024-25 central contracts reflect our forward-looking strategy as we prepare for the new ICC Women's Future Tours Programme," said PCB's new chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed. "By further investing in established players through significantly enhanced retainers and offering clear pathways to the emerging cricketer, we aim to strike a balance between nurturing future stars and sustaining competitiveness at the highest level."
Tags: #PakistanCricket, #WomensCricket, #CentralContracts, #NidaDar, #AliyaRiaz
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