Former Pakistan cricket team opener Ahmed Shehzad says that many star cricketers of the national team are playing domestic cricket not by their own will but only to save central contracts.

Many notable players including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Salman Ali Agha have been playing first-class cricket in the recent President’s Trophy, while Babar Azam is also set to be a part of the tournament in the upcoming round.

Ahmad Shahzad has recently expressed his opinion in this regard in a private TV program.

He has said that the return of these players to domestic cricket is not a choice but a result of central contracts.

The former cricketer has said that in the central contracts, it is mandatory for the players to play a certain number of domestic matches, otherwise they will not be eligible for the central contract.

He has also questioned the pitches used in domestic cricket and said that if unusually large number of runs are scored in the matches, then the purpose of this system will not be fulfilled.

Ahmed Shahzad said that we need pitches where the bowlers are also supported so that the batsmen can overcome their technical shortcomings and prepare more effectively for international cricket.

Citing examples of pitches found in some places in Sialkot and Rawalpindi in the past, he said that the aim of domestic cricket should not only be to score runs but also to prepare players for international standards.

It should be noted that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced 5 tracks based on the format instead of the traditional A, B, C and D categories while changing the central contract system for 2026-27.

Under the new system, apart from fitness and medical tests, players are also required to meet specific participation and performance criteria in domestic cricket.

According to the report, only those players who have played at least 4 Tests, 6 ODIs or 6 T20 Internationals during the last 12 months will be eligible for the senior tracks, while this condition is not applicable for Track D reserved for emerging players.