Pakistan Cricket Board is preparing for a major overhaul of its central contracts for the 2026-27 season, with all-format head coach Mike Hesson advocating for a youth-centric strategy that could see several experienced players sidelined.
A well-informed board source revealed that Hesson has recommended a fresh crop of young talent to be integrated into the new contracts, signalling a significant shift in the selection policy for the national teams across Test, ODI and T20I formats.
The players lined up for inclusion include Arafat Minhas, Saad Baig, Hasan Nawaz, Akif Javed, Ali Reza, Ahsan Daniyal, Sufiyan Muqeem, Maaz Sadaqat, Razaullah, Azan Avais, Imran Randhawa, Abdullah Fazal and Ghazi Ghori.
While these emerging talents are set to be rewarded, the source indicated that experienced campaigners are likely to face the axe, with Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq expected to miss out entirely on central deals.
Hesson has placed strict emphasis on physical fitness, tactical execution of coaching plans, a continuous drive for skill improvement and positive dressing room culture as core criteria for selection.
The coach believes that youngsters who demonstrate genuine potential and bring tangible value to the squad deserve immediate encouragement through lucrative central agreements.
Meanwhile, format captains Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sahabzada Farhan are expected to retain their places, alongside senior figures Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub.
However, some of these established names may find their contracts restricted exclusively to either red-ball or white-ball formats as the board manages player workloads and performance metrics.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has delayed the official announcement of the new contracts following the expiration of the previous agreements on July 31, allowing selectors to thoroughly evaluate player performances.
The delay was deemed necessary to assess ongoing domestic and international fixtures before finalising the roster of players who merit financial backing from the governing body.
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