PCB Announces New Central Contracts, Omit Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz; Fatima Sana Promoted

November 16, 2024: Former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Nida Dar and all-rounder Aliya Riaz have been dropped from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new batch of central contracts, announced on Saturday. Dar, who was in Category A last year, and Riaz, who had already been demoted to Category B, are notably absent from this season’s list, a decision linked to both their recent form and reported concerns about their attitude within the team.

Fatima Sana, who replaced Nida Dar as captain, has been promoted to Category A, recognizing her leadership and performances. Alongside Dar and Riaz, players like Eyman Fatima, Anoosha Nasir, Sidra Nawaz, and Shawaal Zulfiqar have also missed out on contracts this season.

Additionally, former captain Bismah Maroof, who retired earlier this year, is no longer part of the contracts. The PCB stated that these players will remain available for selection, as the board shifts its focus towards developing the next generation of cricketers in line with the ICC’s Women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2025-29.