Aamer wins central contract

Mohammad Aamer has been rewarded for his impressive ICC World Twenty20 displays with a PCB category C central contract

The Pakistan Cricket Board has handed rookie fast bowler Mohammad Aamer his maiden central contract.

The 17-year-old left-arm paceman was a surprise pick for the ICC World Twenty20, which Pakistan eventually won.

Aamer's performance in the tournament has drawn lavish praise and earned him a maiden call up to the Test team for the series against Sri Lanka starting later this week.

Last month, the PCB had awarded 'A' category contracts to prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, but had ignored Aamer.

Razzaq and Yousuf had been excluded from the PCB's original list of 26 centrally contracted players because of their ties with the Indian Cricket League.

The two severed ties with the ICL in May under the PCB's amnesty and were thereafter eligible for international cricket.

The PCB have now handed Aamer a 'C' category central contract, bringing the total to 30 contracted players. Young fast bowler Abdur Rauf was also handed a mid-season contract.