PCB announce central contracts for 2021-22; Nida Dar, Fatima Sana get upgrades

The 12 spots are divided into three categories namely A, B and C. Javeria Khan, who is captaining her side against the West Indies has retained her category A contract along with Bismah Maroof, who is on maternity leave. Meanwhile, Nida Dar has been promoted to category B -  thanks to her impressive performance during the South Africa tour - where she joins Aliya Riaz and Diana Baig.

Fatima Sana who played in all three ODIs against South Africa, earlier this year has been promoted from the emerging contract list to category C. All eight other emerging players, including the likes of Muneeba Ali Siddiqui and Syeda Aroob Shah, will retain their contract.  The national selection committee has also decided to increase monthly retainers by 10% across the categories.

Speaking about the contracts, the chair of the national selection committee Urooj Mumtaz said that the list of central contracts from nine to 12 to reward the best performers on the circuit. “The emerging category retains eight players after Fatima Sana, who has shown some outstanding on-field performances and promise, has been awarded category C contract. Over the next year, the PCB, in total, will contract 20 women cricketers, which is an increase of two from the 2020-21 season,” she said.

PCB’s national selection committee has kept one spot open in the central contracts that will be awarded in the year based on on-field performance. Expanding on that, Mumtaz said, “I am sure this will act as an incentive for the players, who are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting series against West Indies in Antigua.”

Pakistan managed to play a series against South Africa in January after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the game at large. Mumtaz and the selection committee had to take into consideration the performances against South Africa before handing out the contracts. She said, “Though the sample size of the on-field performances is small due to the limited number of matches, we while awarding the contracts, have also incorporated the feedback from the national coaching staff in regards to fitness and skill levels displayed high-performance camps.”

Pakistan will start the tour of the West Indies from June 30, where they will be playing three T20Is and five ODIs. Their next big challenge is the World Cup Qualifier scheduled in December 2021, which will decide their future at the big ICC event.

PCB central contracts for 2021-22 season:

Category A - Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan

Category B - Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig and Nida Dar

Category C - Anam Amin, Fatima Sana, Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail and Sidra Nawaz

Emerging contracts-  Ayesha Naseem, Kaynat Hafeez, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Rameen Shamim, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal and Syeda Aroob Shah