SHAHEEN SHAH AFRIDI DEMOTED IN NEW CONTRACTS

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were retained on the top-tier contracts. In contrast, fast bowler Naseem Shah, test captain Shan Masood, and Afridi are in category B...

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Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been demoted in the new central contracts offered to 25 players by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday. Former all-format captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were retained on the top tier contracts. In contrast, fast bowler Naseem Shah, test captain Shan Masood, and Afridi are in category B. The PCB didn't give a reason why Afridi had been downgraded but did say Masood’s contract level was subject to whether he continues to lead the national team in red-ball cricket.

Masood had lost six successive test matches since he was appointed test captain last year before Pakistan rallied to beat England 2-1 in its home test series on Saturday. The new contracts are from July 1, 2024, to June 30, next year. The notable omissions from the list are batters Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq and allrounder Mohammad Nawaz.