'New PCB contracts may cause dissent in team'

The board awarded enhanced and revised one year central contracts to 15 players earlier this month excluding fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and some other senior players while upgrading junior players into top categories. It also announced special retainers for other players.

The categorisation of the cricketers in the new contracts - for example senior leg spinner Danish Kaneria being bracketed with Fawad Alam who has played just three one-dayers in Category C - has raised eyebrows in cricketing circles in the country.

The board had said it has enforced a new points system based on performance, team spirit, commitment, seniority, fitness and potential in grading the players in the new contracts.

Rameez said he didn't agree with the new system simply because it didn't give any points for seniority.

"When I was the chief executive of the board I strongly opposed the central contracts system simply because historically in our cricket only the slab system payment based on seniority has been successful," he said in an interview.

"In the new system there is no consideration for seniority and performances really. Historically, Pakistan cricket has always been sensitive over seniority issues. How can you keep someone like Danish who has played over 50 Tests below Sohail Tanvir or with Alam?" he asked.

"These type of things I fear might create dissent in the team and cause rifts between the senior and junior players," added Rameez.

The cricketer-turned-commentator said the board should have given importance to the number of matches played by a player as his performance was also linked with this.

He, however, supported the promotion of Misbah-ul-Haq as vice-captain and in category A. "Simply because, he deserves it by dint of his recent performances. And he clearly has a few years of cricket left in him," he said.

Sources in the board said the points system used for awarding contracts was changed at least twice and even now there are glaring anomalies in the system.

"For example senior players like Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar have low points for team spirit. Yet Malik is the captain," one source said.

"Shoaib Akhtar has been given good points for performance but little for potential," the source added.