PCB announces list of 20 women players for central contracts of 2022-23 season

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the list of 20 women players earning the central contracts for 2022-23 season on July 1, Friday. The contracted players are placed in four categories – Category A, Category B, Category C and Category D. Eight players have received enhanced contracts and three players have got the contract for the first time.

Chair of Pakistan Women’s Selection Committee Asmavia Iqbal said that having new entrants on the list is an indicator of the team heading in the right direction. She believes that with the amount of cricket that lies ahead, the team would improve by the end of the season.

“Eight players receiving enhanced contracts and three players being offered contracts for the first time is an indicator that we are heading in the right direction, though we still have a long road ahead to narrow the gap with the leading side,” Iqbal was quoted as saying according to PCB’s official website.

Three players make it into Category A, and leg-spinner Tuba Hassan also gets a contract

Senior players Nida Dar and Bismah Maroof, along with all-rounder Aliya Riaz, have been placed in the Category A of the contract. Five players each make the cut for Category B and Category C, and seven of them have made it to Category D, including 21-year-old leg-spinner Tuba Hassan.

“Central contracts are not only a way to incentivise, appreciate and reward players for their contributions in the previous season, it is also a method to challenge the players to either reclaim or earn better contracts next season, which is only possible through on-field performances,” Iqbal added.

Iqbal also thanked all the players for their contributions and commitment in the previous season and hopes that they will produce good results in the coming season, which consists of global events such as the Commonwealth Games, ICC Women’s Championship and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Women’s central contracts 2022-23:

Category A: Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof

Category B: Omaima Sohail, Fatima Sana, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu 

Category C: Sidra Amin, Muneeba Ali, Ayesha Naseem, Sidra Nawaz, Javeria Khan

Category D: Sadia Iqbal, Ghulam Fatima, Gul Feroza, Iram Javed, Tuba Hassan, Kainat Imtiaz, Sadaf Shams