Lahore
Pakistan’s women’s cricket, veteran all-rounders Aliya Riaz and Nida Dar have been excluded from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contracts list on Saturday for the 2024-25 period. Meanwhile, captain Fatima Sana and wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali have been elevated to the top Category A.
The central contracts for women cricketers, which were previously awarded to 20 players for a two-year period, now include 16 players, effective from July 1, 2024. The exact retainers for these contracts have not been disclosed.
In addition to Fatima and Muneeba’s promotion, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has moved up to Category B. New players included in the contracts list are Gull Feroza, Rameen Shamim, and Tasmia Rubab. Tasmia has earned her first central contract, while Rameen and Gull have returned after stints in previous years.
However, Aliya and Nida, along with Anosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Shawaal Zulfiqar, and Sidra Nawaz, have not been included. The PCB stated that these players would remain available for selection as the focus shifts to developing younger talent in line with the upcoming ICC Women’s Future Tours Programme (2025-29).
Full List of Central Contracted Players:
Category A: Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin
Category B: Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal
Category C: Diana Baig, Omaima Sohail
Category D: Ghulam Fatima, Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani
