PCB and players differ on contracts

 KARACHI: Less than a month before the new central contracts are put into place, differences between the Pakistan Cricket Board and players over the terms and conditions have come to the fore.
     
A meeting was held in Lahore on Friday to discuss the new format for the contracts. PCB and captain Shoaib Malik dished out contrasting versions of the outcome. Shafqat Nagmi, the chief operating officer of the board, told reporters that the players had agreed to the new terms and conditions of the contract, based on performance rather than seniority.
    
But, Malik contradicted Nagmi that the format of the central contracts was yet to be finalised after the meeting. "They have agreed to some of our suggestions and we have accepted some of their proposals. But the contracts would be finalised after a meeting with the board Chairman next week," said the Pakistan skipper.
    
Nagmi said the players -- including Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt -- supported the idea of having performance-based contracts apart from getting a uniform monthly retainer.
    
However, Malik said while the players agreed that it was a good idea to reward individual performances in the new contracts, seniority should also be taken into consideration.