Pakistan Women leave out senior cricketers from central contract in bold step-OxBig News Network

Pakistan Women have left out two of their veterans, Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz, from the central contracts for the 2024-25 international season effective from 1 July 2024. The decision to not include the senior players was taken after an “annual performance review” after 20 players got contracts in the previous period. Anosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima and Sidra Nawaz also lost their annual contracts.

But all five cricketers “will remain available for selection, as the PCB shifts its focus towards developing the next generation of cricketers in alignment with the ICC Women’s Future Tours Programme 2025-29”.

Tasmia Rubab, Rameen Shamim and Gull Feroza are the new entrants in the contracts. Amongst them, Tasmia earned her maiden contract. Feroza and Shamim returned after 2022-23 and 2018 respectively.

All-rounder Fatima Sana, who recently captained Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, have been promoted to Category A. Muneeba Ali, who was the vice-captain and also led against Australia in Fatima’s absence, moved up to Category A.

The other player in the top category is top-order batter Sidra Amin. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal was also promoted to Category B after he became the World No.1 bowler in T20Is, going past England’s Sophie Ecclestone.

“On behalf of the PCB, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Sadia Iqbal on their well-earned promotions, as well as to Tasmia Rubab for receiving a central contract for the first time. Her inclusion and progression, as well as return of Gull Feroza and Rameen Shamim highlight our commitment to recognising consistent performances and rewarding talent,” Sumair Ahmad Syed, the PCB Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement.

Here’s the list of centrally contracted players for Pakistan Women:

Category A – Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin

Category B – Nashra Sandhu, 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