In a surprising move, Pakistan cricketer Fakhar Zaman has been dropped from the PCB’s central contracts list for the 2024-25 season. This decision comes after his recent public criticism of the PCB’s decision to rest Babar Azam during a Test series.
Zaman’s outspoken nature and criticism of the board’s decisions may have played a role in his exclusion from the central contracts. Other notable omissions from the list include Iftikhar Ahmed, Hassan Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Imam-ul-Haq.
Another significant change in the central contracts is the demotion of Shaheen Afridi from Category A to Category B. This move reflects the PCB’s assessment of his recent performances and potential.
The PCB has introduced several new players to the central contract list, including Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Usman Khan.
This overhaul of the central contracts list signals a potential shift in the Pakistan cricket team’s strategy and a focus on emerging talent. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact the team’s performance in the upcoming international season.