Hafeez, Malik and Junaid notable absentees as PCB awards central contracts for 2019-20 season

Veteran all-rounders Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Junaid Khan were the notable absentees as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued the list of its centrally contracted players for the cricket season 20019-2020.

Hafeez, 37, and Malik 38, were Category B and Category A players in the contracts issued last year but the duo have not been retained in any categories this time around — a clear sign that the end is nigh for both the cricketers.

The board, however, did say that while the two "have not been offered contracts, they will remain available for selection."

Junaid, 29, who had protested against his axing from the World Cup 2019 squad, has not even been acknowledged by the PCB, which likely ends his international career.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf, who like Junaid was also a part of the provisional World Cup squad before being replaced, has also missed out on a contract. 

Meanwhile, recently retired Test pacer Mohammad Amir and former ODI captain Azhar Ali, who were both Category A players last year, have been demoted to Category C and B respectively.

The topmost Category A, which had six players last year, now only has three members: star batsman Babar Azam, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and leg spinner Yasir Shah.

Batsmen Haris Sohail and Imamul Haq, and pacers Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi have all been promoted to Category B. Middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq and fast bowler Hasan Ali have maintained their positions in the category.

Out-of-form Fakhar Zaman has been downgraded from Category B to C. The Category C also features Imad Wasim and Shan Masood, two leading candidates for captaincy.

The PCB said that "players’ performances and fitness in the past 12 months and the formats they are likely to represent Pakistan in the upcoming season was taken into consideration" before finalising the contracts.

“I want to congratulate all those who have been offered central contracts for the next season. We have significantly increased the financial value of the 2019-20 retainers across each category. This is over and above what had been agreed in the current agreement, which is due to run until 2021," said PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan.

“The PCB have set high standards and targets in its strategic plan for the upcoming season. We want to attach a high value to receiving a central contract. We have complete faith and confidence that these players will set-up and produce on-field performances that will help us collectively achieve our objectives and targets.”

Category A: Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Yasir Shah

Category B: Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Abbas, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Wahab Riaz

Category C: Abid Ali, Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood and Usman Shinwari