LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday awarded central contracts to 22 women cricketers for the year 2016. “These contracts have been given to women cricketers for their outstanding performance and the progress they have shown in domestic and international events throughout the year 2015,” a PCB spokesman said. “The one-year contract is effective from January 1, 2016 and is divided into A, B, C and D categories.” The PCB has increased the number of women’s central contracts from 21 to 22, and retained Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Asmavia Iqbal in the top category. Fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has been moved from category C to D while opener Marina Iqbal has been dropped from B to C. Muneeba Ali, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar are the new inclusions in the contract list. Uncapped players Fareeha Mehmood and Maham Tariq, along with fast bowler Sumaiya Siddiqi, who played nine limited-overs games in 2015, were not awarded a contract. Left-arm spinner Anam Amin, who took 33 wickets in 17 limited-overs matches in 2015, has been promoted to category B from C. Sania Khan, who last played for Pakistan in November 2015, has been demoted from B to C. Wicketkeeper Sidra Amin, who showed some lightening fast skills with the gloves, has been named in category ‘C’. The national women’s team, under the leadership of Sana Mir, made headlines during the World T20 in March when they beat arch-rivals India in the group stage of the tournament before emerging victors against Bangladesh in the same round. Although Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals, their high-octane fielding show, along with notable effort with both bat and ball gave them a major chance to prove their potential as a world class side. Central Contracts: Category ‘A’ (Rs.100,500, $960): Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Asmavia Iqbal. Category ‘B’ (Rs.85,000, $810) Nida Rashid, Anam Amin and Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi. Category ‘C’ (Rs.65,000, $620): Sadia Yousaf, Sidra Nawaz, Rabiya Shah, Sidra Amin, Nahida Khan, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Marina Iqbal and Sania Khan. Category ‘D’ (Rs.30,000, $285): Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwar, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar and Kainat Imtiaz.