Pakistan to wait until ODI tri-series ends before awarding central contracts

Pakistan will delay issuing new central contracts for its players until after the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 18 to 31, the source said. The hold-up comes as head coach Mike Hesson and the national selectors intend to assess players during the series.

"The reason for this is that head coach Mike Hesson, who is coaching the national team in all formats, and the national selectors want to have a look at the performances of the players in the ongoing international matches at home and also the ongoing first-class domestic season before they reach a decision," the source said. The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it will award the new central contracts in specialised format categories rather than on seniority. Players will be placed into categories such as Test cricket format, T20 format, and white-ball format (ODIs+T20), etc.

The source said the announcement of the new contracts might be delayed until the completion of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in November. "Whenever the central contracts are given out, they will be given on a backdate as the last central contracts expired on 31st July," the source added. The source also noted that the board usually announces the new contracts in August.

The source added that Hesson and the selectors believe they can get a conclusive picture on which player (s) to place in which category in the new central contracts after watching their performances in these matches. That assessment will draw on performances in the ongoing international fixtures at home and the domestic first-class season, the source indicated.

With Pakistan scheduled to play England and Sri Lanka in the tri-series from October 18-31 in Rawalpindi and Lahore and the two-Test series against Sri Lanka to follow in November, the source says contract decisions are expected only after those matches have been reviewed.