Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Naqvi has said that only cricketers who play domestic cricket will be eligible for central contracts and selection.
Speaking informally to journalists, Naqvi said players who participate in domestic cricket would receive contracts and remain in contention for national team selection. He recalled that the board had already stated last year that players who did not take part in domestic cricket would not be included in the central contract list.
He said it remained unclear which players were actively participating in domestic cricket, adding that any player who did not play domestic cricket would not be considered for a contract.
Naqvi said he had visited the training camp and reviewed cricket affairs, adding that several developments would be announced within the next few days.
He said a comprehensive policy covering T20, One-Day International and Test cricket had been prepared and would be discussed on Monday.
The PCB chairman said the board had long planned to introduce a computer-based system for central contracts and player selection, reducing human intervention in decision-making. He said around 85 per cent of the process had been removed from manual control and that the new system would bring significant benefits in the future.
He said a committee had been formed and that any player failing to meet the required criteria would not become part of the central contract structure.
Naqvi said players could remain in both Test and One-Day categories, while separate categories had been created for One-Day and T20 specialists. A category had also been established for emerging players.
He said the PCB would support players who could not afford certain expenses and confirmed that match fees for Test, One-Day International and T20 cricket would be increased. Domestic cricket match fees would also rise.
Naqvi said that the players would need to meet three key requirements – fitness, domestic cricket participation and performance – to remain part of the national team and central contract system.
He said all processes would be computerised and that the selection committee had been provided with a 15-point framework for assessing players.
Naqvi said he was meeting former captain Younis Khan as part of efforts to strengthen cricketing expertise within the system. He added that he wanted more cricketers to play a role in decision-making.
He said matters relating to the captaincy remained with a group comprising selectors and cricketers, adding that he did not wish to take control of the selection process.
Naqvi said his responsibility was to strengthen the Pakistan Super League and domestic cricket, while ensuring the PCB was run on professional lines.
He said the board's financial position was strong and expressed confidence that Pakistan cricket would return to the right track.
Naqvi says Iran-US agreement expected soon
Meanwhile, while, discussing the political landscape of the region, the interior minister said an agreement between Iran and the United States was expected soon.
Naqvi said electricity should also be reduced by Rs3 per unit, adding that others would stage protests as well if such concessions were offered.
He said the government's mistake had been to continue accepting every demand placed before it.
Referring to demands regarding reserved seats, he said some people wanted the special seats to be abolished.
Naqvi said India had settled four million non-Kashmiris in the territory, while proposals were being made to abolish seats allocated to Kashmiris.
Commenting on senior journalist Sohail Warraich, he said Warraich had reached a stage in life where he should consider retirement.
He said not a single allegation against him had been conclusively proven.
Naqvi said nothing significant would take place in July or August and that the government would complete its term.
He said economies across the world had faced difficulties, causing disruption to systems globally, but maintained that Pakistan had continued to move forward and had secured fuel supplies from various sources.
Naqvi said petrol prices could have exceeded Rs500 per litre had arrangements not been made in time.
He said he was unaware of any such formula being discussed.
Expressing optimism over negotiations between Iran and the United States, Naqvi said he expected positive news within the next one or two days.
He added that the prime minister and the Field Marshal would be present wherever matters were finalised.
