Rizwan, Hasan Ali in top category in new Pakistan contracts

Fast bowler Hasan Ali and vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan were placed in the top category in the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) new list of centrally contracted players announced on Friday.

Ali had missed out on a contract last year after an injury-marred season, while wicket keeper-batsman Rizwan was rewarded for his consistent performance across formats.

Captain Babar Azam and speedster Shaheen Afridi are the two other players in the top category of the 20-member list that includes eight new faces.

Teenage fast bowler Naseem Shah and fellow quick Mohammad Abbas are among nine players who lost their contracts.

"The door remains firmly open for these players and they will continue to remain in the plans of the selectors," PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said.

Former test spinner Abdul Qadir's son Usman is one of three players to win an Emerging Category contract.

The PCB announced a 25 per cent increase in retainers in A, B and C categories, while introducing equal match fees across all formats.

"The equalisation of match fees means that all players who walk out together to represent Pakistan will receive the same match fees irrespective of which category they are in, or whether they have a central contract or not," Khan added.

Category A: Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi

Category B: Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Fawad Alam, Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah

Category C: Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed