"The Pakistan Cricket Boards (PCB) ad-hoc committee has approved the continuation of central contracts of all 17 players for another year," PCB spokesman Abbas Zaidi told AFP on Friday.

Pakistan's top 17 cricketers were given a monthly salary of around 1,200 to 3,500 dollars under the first ever national contracts introduced last year which expired after the team's West Indies tour earlier this month.

But contracts of all unfit players or those under scrutiny for illegal bowling actions would be reviewed after six months, Zaidi said.

Fiery pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who missed both West Indies and Indian tours due to fitness problems also got a renewed contract ending speculation he could be dropped from the list of contracted players.

The 29-year-old Akhtar was the last player to sign the contract after he raised certain objections over personal sponsorship.

Captain Inzamam-ul Haq, vice captain Yousuf Youhana, allrounder Abdul Razzaq, and Akhtar were offered "A" category contracts and received a monthly salary of 200,000 rupees (around 3,500 dollars).

Players in the "B" category got 125,000 rupees (around 2,100 dollars) while players in the "C" category received 75,000 rupees (around 1,200 dollars) a month.

The contracted players were judged by points scored on their performance in international matches.

"The committee has also decided to add some more points, like five points will be given on scoring a century in a Test or one-day match," said the spokesman.

A bowler will get five points on getting five wickets in a Test or four wickets in a one-day match while a fielder will get the same number of points on taking four or more catches in a match, he added.

"Achieving world record in any form will give a player ten points while five points will be given on achieving national record in any form," said Zaidi.

The renewed contracts start from July 10.

The Pakistan team now has a lay off until late October when they host England for three Tests and five one-day games.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)