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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a significant stride in bolstering women’s cricket by awarding central contracts to a cohort of 20 talented cricketers. These contracts are categorized into four tiers – A, B, C, and D – as part of the PCB’s ongoing efforts to support and elevate the women’s cricketing ecosystem.
The central contracts, spanning 23 months from August 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, underpin the PCB’s dedication to nurturing and cultivating the talents of the country’s women cricketers. Performance evaluations are slated to occur after the first year, reinforcing the commitment to sustaining excellence on the field.
New Faces and Emerging Talents
Anosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Shawaal Zulfiqar, and Umm-e-Hani are standout names among the new entrants, earning central contracts for the first time. Umm-e-Hani, who marked her international debut against Ireland last year, continues her upward trajectory by clinching her maiden central contract.
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Established Players and Upgraded Categories
Current captain Nida Dar and former skipper Bismah Maroof have secured their positions in the prestigious A category, emblematic of their continued contributions to the team. Sidra Amin, currently holding the second spot in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 run-scorers list with 535 runs in nine matches, has ascended from the C to the A category.
Muneeba Ali, who showcased her prowess with a century in this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup, has been promoted from category C to B. Additionally, pacer Fatima Sana, recognized for her leadership during Pakistan’s campaign in this year’s Women’s Emerging Asia Cup, retains her spot in the B category.
Diana Baig, whose contributions to the national team have been commendable, has transitioned from the B to the C category, arguably because she remained sidelined on most of the last year due to her shoulder and finger injuries.
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Pakistan Women’s Central Contracts 2023-2025 complete list:
- Category A: Bismah Maroof, Nida Dar and Sidra Amin
- Category B: Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Nashra Sundhu
- Category C: Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal and Sidra Nawaz
- Category D: Eyman Fatima, Anoosha Nasir, Najiha Alvi, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
