PCB claims central contract dispute with players not affecting Pak's WC preparations

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has claimed that their dispute with the Pakistan players over their central contracts is not affecting the squad's World Cup preparations.

Najam Sethi, head of the board's executive committee, said that the dispute had been blown out of proportion in the media. He said that the players are focused on cricket and the World Cup and it is wrong to say this central contracts issue is affecting their performance or focus.

Sethi admitted that the senior players had reservations, but claimed that talks had been held, adding that they would be offered 12-month contracts after the World Cup, Stuf.co.nz reported.

Sethi said that it is not a big issue as it is being made out to be, adding that it certainly had no bearing on Pakistan's performances in New Zealand, where they lost two practice games and two ODIs after the central contracts dispute erupted last month, the report added.