KARACHI: Seventeen women cricketers have been awarded central contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The number of contracts has been reduced from 19 to 17 and as a result, Kainat Imtiaz, Faryal Awan, Areeb Shamaim and Masooma Junaid, who were given contracts last year, were not given central contracts.

Meanwhile, Mariam Hassan Shah, Sania Iqbal Khan and Asmavia Iqbal have been awarded the contracts this year.

Pakistan will play in a tri-nation series in Ireland followed by matches in England.

Category A: Sana Mir, Javeria Wadood, Nain Abidi, Bismah Maroof, Qanita Jalil, Sadia Yousaf

Category B: Nida Dar, Asmavia Iqbal, Marina Iqbal, Batool Fatima, Rabiya Shah

Category C: Mariam Hassan Shah, Sana Gulzar, Sidra Ameen, Sania Iqbal Khan, Nahida Khan, Namra Imran