Melbourne, Jun 7 (PTI) Veteran batsman Simon Katich and pacer Shaun Tait were dropped, while Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja was included in Cricket Australia's list of 25 annually contracted players announced today.

The new entrants in the list are Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, John Hastings, David Hussey, Usman Khawaja, Jason Krejza and James Pattinson.

"Doherty, Hastings, Hussey, Khawaja and Krejza ended 2010-11 as contracted players after earning sufficient upgrade points while Cummins and Pattinson have been awarded contracts for the first time," Cricket Australia said in a statement.

"Departing the list is James Hopes, Simon Katich, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Shaun Tait and Adam Voges who did not have their contracts renewed for 2011-12," it added.

CA said the list was decided on the basis of the "form of the players over the past 12 months and their likelihood of Australian selection over the next 12 months.