Amir Criticizes PCB for Excluding Fakhar Zaman from Central Contract

Lahore [Pakistan], October 28, 2024: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir voiced strong criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday following the board's decision to exclude top-order batsman Fakhar Zaman from the centrally contracted players list for the 2024-25 season. Amir expressed his surprise and disappointment over Fakhar’s exclusion, igniting debate within the cricket community.

Using his official X account, Amir described Fakhar as Pakistan’s sole impact player in white-ball cricket. “I am surprised that @FakharZamanLive is not in the team. He is the only impact player we have in white ball cricket,” Amir wrote.

The PCB recently revealed its list of centrally contracted players, with Fakhar’s absence sparking significant discussions. PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi addressed the matter at a press conference in Lahore, pointing to Fakhar's fitness as the primary reason behind his omission. Naqvi acknowledged Fakhar’s contribution but cited his fitness issues as a major factor. “The tweet was an issue, but the bigger matter is his fitness. There is a show-cause notice pending against him...but you cannot publicly comment on the selection committee's decisions. However, the bigger issue remains his fitness,” Naqvi stated.

This marks the first time in eight years that Fakhar has not been offered a central contract. According to ESPNcricinfo, his relationship with the PCB has reportedly strained over time, adding further complexity to his exclusion.

Meanwhile, five players—Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan—have received their first-ever central contracts in Category D. Other notable updates include Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood’s retention in Category B following Pakistan’s recent Test series victory, while Babar Azam remains in Category A. Although Shaheen Afridi has moved down to Category B, Mohammad Rizwan joins Babar in Category A as Pakistan’s top-ranked players.

Central Contract Categories:

• Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan
• Category B: Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood
• Category C: Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan
• Category D: Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Khan