Twenty Pakistani players have signed central contracts with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and vice captain Younis Khan and all rounder Shahid Afridi have been promoted to the top category.

"The players have now signed the contracts," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Wednesday.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and Afridi are the six highest paid players.

"Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal have been promoted to grade two category because of their performances in recent months," the spokesman said.