PCB hands out contracts to 19 women players

The PCB has offered central contracts to 19 women cricketers for 2011. The cricketers were part of the gold-medal-winning squad in the inaugural women's cricket tournament at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, last November. The board had announced its intention of contracting women cricketers in December 2010.

The one-year contracts have been afforded in four categories, with Sana Mir, Javeria Khan, Nain Abidi, Bismah Maroof and Batool Fatima falling in the top bracket, Category A.

One of the members of the Asian Games squad, Sania Khan, has not received a contract due to an injury. "Sania Khan's contract has been withheld due to medical reasons as she is currently undergoing a rehabilitation programme in lieu of a shoulder injury," a PCB release stated. "Once she is cleared by PCB's medical panel, then her contract will be issued accordingly."

After the Asian Games victory, the board had also introduced match fees for the women players; previously the team just received a daily allowance for expenses, their only regular source of income being the jobs they held with companies that have first-class cricket teams.

The list of players awarded contracts:

Category A: Sana Mir, Javeria Khan, Nain Abidi, Bismah Maroof, Batool Fatima

Category B: Nida Dar, Asmavia Iqbal, Qanita Jalil, Marina Iqbal, Sania Khan

Category C: Masooma Junaid, Sadia Yousaf, Rabiya Shah, Sana Gulzar, Sidra Ameen

Category D or retainership: Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Namra Imran, Faryal Awan, Areeb Shamaim