Kamran Akmal likely to be excluded from central contract list
The Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to reward in-form youngsters like Sohaib Maqsood, Rahat Ali, Haris Sohail, Khurrum Manzoor and Shaan Masood who have made the national side this year.
Some senior Pakistan players such as Kamran Akmal may not be given central contracts next year as the Pakistan Cricket Board and national selectors have decided to reward in-form youngsters.
A official in the PCB confirmed that the selectors had been told to prepare a preliminary list of 20 to 25 players to be considered for central contracts.
"Once the selectors submit the list it will be debated upon by the interim management committee of the Board and finally approved by the acting chairman," the official said.
The Board handed out central contracts in 2012 and 2013 after delays but next year's contracts will be given before the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20 Championship in Bangladesh in February.
With many new faces being selected in the national team for the three formats, a source in the Board said some seasoned players might be axed from the contracts list. These could include Kamran Akmal, Aizaz Cheema, Faisal Iqbal, Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat.
21 players received central contracts (A, B and C categories) in 2013 in addition to nine players who were included in the stipend category. "Obviously players like Sohaib Maqsood, Rahat Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Zulfiqar Babar, Anwar Ali, Haris Sohail, Khurrum Manzoor and Shaan Masood who made the national team this year will be given central contracts with monthly salaries," the source added.
Seniors like Misbah-ul-Haq, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Mohammed Hafeez, Younis Khan and Umar Gul will be placed in the top category. Presently the category A players take home a monthly salary of around Rs 330,000 along with lucrative match fees.