The PCB has decided to award category A central contracts to Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq.

These two senior baysmen have made a return to the national team after resigning from the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Sources in the Board said PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt had approved the contracts for the two players, who leave with the national team for the Test tour of Sri Lanka on Saturday.

"Both of them have been included in the A category while no final decision has been taken on the two other players who have resigned from the ICL, Imran Nazir and Rana Naved," one source said.

Razzaq has already represented Pakistan in the ICC World Twenty20 in England where he was sent as a replacement for the injured Yasir Arafat.

Senior batsman Yousuf returns to the team for the Sri Lanka Test series after joining the ICL late last year and subsequently being banned by the Board.

Players in the A category of the central contracts are paid a monthly retainer of 250,000 rupees besides their match and tour fees.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has welcomed the return of Yousuf and Razzaq to the national team and said they would strengthen the team on its tour of Sri Lanka.