In a first, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday awarded contracts to three umpires in the country. According to the reports, the scheme is limited and only three of the International Cricket Council (ICC) panel umpires from Pakistan – Zameer Haider, Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza – were offered the contracts. Zakir Khan, PCB director for domestic cricket operation, was quoted as saying in the local media on Thursday: “The arrangement for umpires was long due. The initiative was taken to encourage those who are representing Pakistan in the International Cricket Council umpires panel, so only three umpires were offered the six-month contracts.” Five names were suggested, including the familiar ones of Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf, but the PCB decided to reward only three with contracts and a monthly stipend of $550.
