PCB awards contracts to 19 players

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LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday awarded central contracts to 19 players but ignored under-scrutiny former captain Shoaib Malik, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and batsman Mohammad Yousuf.

Malik, who also missed out on a contract last time round, and Kaneria were not named after both were investigated as part of a corruption probe last year.

Veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf, dropped from World Cup squad because of poor form, also failed to win a contract.

The PCB said players were placed in three categories considering their seniority.

"The central contracts have been given to 19 players for a period of six months from 1st January to 30th June, 2011, and will be reviewed again for the next six months," PCB said in a statement.

Former captain Younis Khan regained his A category contract after failing to make last year's list following a ban after a tour of Australia which was marred by players' indiscipline and defeats in all matches.

His ban was lifted last year on appeal.

Besides Younis, one-day captain Shahid Afridi, Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar were also named in the top bracket and will receive a monthly salary of 250,000 rupees ($3,000).

Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal and Wahab Riaz were
named in B category for which the players are paid 175,000 rupees ($2,000).

Taufiq Umar, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shahzad, Azhar Ali, Adnan Akmal, Tanvir Ahmed and Junaid Khan were placed in C category earning them a 100,000 rupees ($1,175) wage.

The PCB last month said Malik and Kaneria will only be given central contracts after clearance from the integrity committee set-up following spot-fixing charges against Pakistan players during the England tour last year.

Former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif are serving lengthy bans on corruption charges relating to the tour. The PCB suspended their contracts in October last year.

The banned trio also face criminal prosecution in Britain. They are due to appear in a London court on March 17.