Date:14/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/14/stories/2009011457812200.htm

Business

PCB gives central contract to Rauf

Karachi: In a bid to settle the furore surrounding the selection of contracted players, the Pakistan Cricket Board has included pacer Abdul Rauf in the list.

“Rauf has been given a category ‘C’ contract with a monthly retainer of Rs. 100,000 on the recommendations of the chief selector, Abdul Qadir,” a Board official said. Rauf’s inclusion comes just one day after the Chief Operating Officer of the Board, Saleem Altaf said the list of 26 players who were given central contracts was final.

The PCB came under fire from various quarters for ignoring some deserving players including Rauf for the central contracts but refused to admit it had made any major omissions.

Rauf had publicly stated that he was surprised at not getting a central contract after his encouraging performance for Pakistan in his ODI debut for them last year in the Asia Cup and solid showing in domestic tournaments. — PTI