Following the national cricket team's dismal performance in the T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced plans to re-evaluate the central contracts of its players. This move could see several underperforming cricketers demoted or dropped from the central contract list. Sources indicate that players who fail to deliver in the upcoming phase will face demotion, and many may lose their contracts altogether. Despite being awarded a 3-year contract starting July 1 of last year, the team’s poor showing in recent tournaments has prompted this reassessment.

The national team has consistently underperformed, with failures in the Asia Cup, ICC World Cup, and T20 World Cup, as well as unsuccessful tours in Australia and New Zealand. Notably, during Zaka Ashraf's tenure, the players secured salary increases through pressure tactics, yet the team failed to achieve success in major tournaments. Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi and top officials convened late into the night to deliberate on the team's lackluster performance and the future of the central contracts. The PCB aims to restructure the remuneration and retention of players to align with performance expectations.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan