Pakistan’s opening batter, Fakhar Zaman, has officially ended his professional relationship with his player agent. This news was shared by his older brother, Gohar Zaman, on social media platform X.
In his post, Gohar confirmed, “As Fakhar’s elder brother, I can say he will no longer be associated with SAYA Corps.”
The news has drawn attention, as other prominent players like Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s white-ball captain, and former captain Babar Azam remain with the same agency.
Sources suggest Fakhar’s decision might be linked to a social media post from his agent that allegedly came at a sensitive time, possibly creating complications for Fakhar and sparking suspicions of favoritism towards another player.
This announcement comes at a challenging period for Fakhar, who missed out on a central contract and was not chosen for the white-ball squad. Before this issue, he was even considered a potential captain.
Changes in Central Contracts
Shaheen Shah Afridi, once in Category A with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, has been shifted to Category B. Now, only Babar and Rizwan remain in Category A. Big names like Fakhar, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, and Imad Wasim have been left out of the central contracts.
Previously in Category B, Fakhar’s contract status reflects the PCB’s new one-year contract system, which is based on performance.
Additionally, the PCB now requires players to complete quarterly fitness checks and participate in domestic cricket.
Pakistan’s Recent Performances and Contract Changes
After Pakistan’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, the PCB has updated its contract structure, replacing the previous three-year contracts. Test captain Shan Masood is now listed in Category B due to his leadership role.
Shaheen’s downgrade follows his rest during part of the recent England Test series after Pakistan’s loss in the first match.
Several young players, including Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas Afridi, have been given central contracts for the first time.
Some players, including Fakhar, Imam, and Osama, reportedly failed initial fitness tests, and they will have reassessments soon to determine contract eligibility.
Central Contract Details and Salary Structure
The new central contract salaries are as follows:
- Category A: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan – Rs 4.5 million per month
- Category B: Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shan Masood – Rs 3 million per month
- Category C: Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Usman Khan
- Category D: Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Usman Khan
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