PCB increases women’s contracts

LAHORE: The PCB has increased the number of women’s central contracts from 21 to 22, and retained Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Asmavia Iqbal in the top category. Fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz was moved from category C to D while opener Marina Iqbal has been dropped from B to C.

Muneeba Ali, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar are the new inclusions in the contract list. Uncapped players Fareeha Mehmood and Maham Tariq, along with fast bowler Sumaiya Siddiqi, who played nine limited-overs games in 2015, were not awarded a contract.

Left-arm spinner Anam Amin, who took 33 wickets in 17 limited-overs matches in 2015, has been promoted to category B from C. Sania Khan, who last played for Pakistan in November 2015, has been demoted from from B to C.

“These contracts have been given to women cricketers for their outstanding performance and progress they have shown in domestic and international events throughout the year 2015,” the PCB said in a release. “The one-year contract is effective from January 1, 2016, and is divided into four categories (A, B, C and D).”

Despite lacking an organised international calendar, Pakistan Women have put in impressive performances at global events. They beat India and Bangladesh in the group stage of the recently-concluded World T20 in India, but failed to make the semi-final after losing to West Indies and England.

Category A (Rs100,500): Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Asmavia Iqbal.

Category B (Rs85,000): Nida Dar, Anam Amin, Nain Abidi.

Category C (Rs65,000): Sadia Yousuf, Sidra Nawaz, Rabiya Shah, Sidra Ameen, Nahida Khan, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Marina Iqbal, Sania Khan.

Category D (Rs30,000): Muneeba Ali, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar, Kainat Imtiaz.