In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a reshuffling of its central contracts for the 2024-25 season. Premier pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been demoted from Category A to Category B, while senior players Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Osama Mir have been omitted from the list entirely
SOURCE : ZEE
Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was previously in Category A alongside Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, has now been moved to Category B. This decision comes after a meticulous evaluation of player performances, fitness levels, and conduct over the past year
Source:- bbc news
Despite guiding the team to a remarkable 2-1 series win over England, Afridi’s demotion reflects the PCB’s focus on rewarding emerging talent and maintaining high standards of performance. Fakhar Zaman, a key player in Pakistan’s batting lineup, has been notably excluded from the central contracts. This decision follows Zaman’s recent comments defending Babar Azam after his exclusion from the Test squad for the last two matches against England
Zaman’s tweet, which compared Babar’s run drought to Virat Kohli’s lean patch, did not sit well with the PCB, leading to his omission. As part of its strategy to incentivize, encourage, and reward talented and emerging cricketers, the PCB has awarded central contracts to five players for the first time. These players, including Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan, have been placed in Category D
This move signifies a shift towards nurturing new talent and ensuring a strong pipeline of future stars for Pakistan cricket. The PCB has awarded A category contracts to just two players: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who will soon be announced as Pakistan’s white ball formats captain. Category B includes Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shan Masood, while Category C comprises Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and Shadab Khan.
Category D includes 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. The announcement has sparked a range of reactions from fans and cricket enthusiasts
While some have expressed disappointment over the demotion of established players like Shaheen Afridi and the omission of Fakhar Zaman, others have welcomed the focus on emerging talent. The PCB’s decision to introduce quarterly fitness assessments and mandate participation in domestic cricket is seen as a positive step towards maintaining high standards and ensuring player fitness
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the upcoming season, the reshuffling of central contracts serves as a reminder of the PCB’s commitment to excellence and its vision for the future of Pakistan cricket. The focus on nurturing new talent and rewarding consistent performers is expected to strengthen the team’s performance in the long run.
In conclusion, the PCB’s central contracts announcement for the 2024-25 season has brought significant changes, with Shaheen Afridi’s demotion and Fakhar Zaman’s omission standing out. The emphasis on emerging talent and the introduction of new players into the contract list reflect the PCB’s strategy to build a robust and competitive team for the future. As the cricketing world watches closely, the impact of these changes on Pakistan’s performance remains to be seen.
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