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5 things to deduce from PCB’s central contracts

The awarding of contracts could indicate which way the PCB is leaning regarding key upcoming decisions.

By Zohaib Ahmed Majeed

August 08, 2019

The Karachiite is under category A, indicating that the door to captaincy is still open. Photo: AFP

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday awarded central contracts to 19 players, saying that the deals were based on performance, fitness levels and formats to be represented in.

Here are five conclusions to be drawn from the contracts:

1-Sarfaraz likely to retain captaincy

Imad Wasim and Shan Masood remain in Category C and hence are probably not going to be considered for captaincy. Photo: AFP

Despite his own and the team’s form shaky at best in the past 12 months, Sarfaraz Ahmed has been retained in the Category A. It means that the board still trusts the Karachiite and is unlikely to show him the door a la former head coach Mickey Arthur and his backroom staff.

Imad Wasim and Shan Masood had emerged as frontrunners for Sarfaraz’s job, with the former a candidate for the shorter formats and the latter for Tests.

However, neither got bumped up from Category C, probably because neither of the two play all three formats but possibly also because the board is not considering them for Sarfaraz’s job.

2- End is near for Hafeez and Malik

Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez did not make the cut but the PCB have extended a lifeline, saying that the two would remain in contention for selection. Photo: AFP

Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik did not get any contracts but the PCB did throw them a lifeline, saying that the two would remain in contention for selection.

The pair might get a series or two to formally bid farewell but anything beyond that would be a stretch. Expect them to be out of the national fold and officially retired by the end of the year.

3- End is now for Junaid

Junaid Khan's past caught up with him as the PCB did not award him contract. Photo: AFP

Prior to the World Cup, Junaid Khan had shared a photo of himself gagged in reaction to being axed from the squad. Even though he later deleted the picture from his Twitter account, damage had been done.

PCB had not taken any action against him at the time, but it was understood that they would, and Junaid would not make another Pakistan squad for the foreseeable future or even for good. As expected, the board did not award him a contract, which means that Junaid’s Pakistan career may be over at the tender age of 29.

4- Yasir Shah in Category A makes little sense

The Test player retains a Category A contract; a baffling move by the board. Photo: AFP

While Babar Azam truly deserves his Category A contract, same could not be said about Yasir Shah. He is 33 and not the fittest of players, and on top of everything, he mostly plays just one format: Tests.

On what basis Shah has been retained in the topmost category is a little baffling. One possible reason could be the fact that the ICC World Test Championship is set to get underway this year, and Shah could be a major weapon in the two-year-long competition.

5- Zaman is on thin ice

The once opening batsman's dwindling numbers sees him demoted from Category B to Category C. Photo: AFP

Fakhar Zaman’s average over the last 26 ODIs is an astoundingly abysmal 29.34. The PCB appear to have taken notice of that alarming slump. He has been demoted from Category B to Category C. There is no Category D anymore, which means he is walking on thin ice and could be dropped if he does not get his act together.