PCB, players reach verbal agreement over central contracts

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reached a verbal agreement with national players regarding a dispute over a three-month central contract, reliable sources told ‘The News’ on Friday.
Sources said that after convincing the players that most of their demands will be accepted regarding the contract and its clauses, the PCB has asked them to focus on their all-important task: World Cup 2015 which kicks off in Australia and New Zealand next month.
“The players have been told that they should concentrate on getting ready for the World Cup which will begin for Pakistan with a crucial match against India on February 15,” a source said.
“They have also been given assurances from the top brass that that Board will address all their grievances regarding the central contracts,” he added.
The source said that the Board is unlikely to redraft the central contract any time soon and might only finalise it after the World Cup.
“The idea is to give the players a back-dated contract of 12 months after the World Cup. The Board has reached a verbal agreement with the players and the issue has been resolved,” the source said.
The central contracts which the PCB offers to leading players expired on December 31. Instead of offering fresh one-year contracts, which is normally the case, the Board opted to offer contracts till March 31.
Apparently the idea was to review the list of central contracts after the World Cup. The quadrennial tournament to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand will begin on February 14 and conclude on March 29.
The Board was of the view that some of the senior players including skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, all-rounder Shahid Afridi and senior batsman Younis Khan will not be a part of Pakistan’s one-day squad after the World Cup.
Both Misbah and Afridi have already announced their plans to retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup while Younis’ inclusion in the one-day squad will depend on how he fares in the 14-nation spectacle.
There are also doubts about iconic spinner Saeed Ajmal retaining his place in the list of central contracts considering that he has been out of action since last August because of an illegal bowling action. Though Ajmal has also been offered a contract, it remains to be seen whether the off-spinner will be able to return to national duty anytime soon.