Atkinson was one of two players to be given a Category A contract

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Nine Hong Kong cricketers have been given central contracts by the Hong Kong Cricket Association, with captain Jamie Atkinson and opening batsman Irfan Ahmed being awarded with Category A contracts.

This means that Atkinson and Ahmed will earn HK$ 11,500 per month.

The bowling duo of Nadeem Ahmed and Haseeb Amjad, along with all-rounder Nizakat Khan, have been given Category B contracts, while batsmen Waqas Barkat and Babar Hayat and pace bowler Aizaz Khan have been handed Category C contracts.

“Several of these players have been paid for some time now but this is the first time we are handing out central contracts,” Hong Kong Cricket Association chairman Mike Walsh said. “All this money will come from the ICC’s high-performance fund.”

Hong Kong have accomplished a lot over the past year, including attaining ODI status and beating Bangladesh during the recent World Twenty20.