The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled its central contracts for the 2025-26 season, making significant changes to the players’ categories. Mohammad Rizwan and former captain Babar Azam have been moved from Category A to Category B, while Shan Masood, formerly in Category B, now finds himself in Category D.
In a move that has raised eyebrows, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its central contracts for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday. As many as 30 players have been awarded central contracts, effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The revamped system sees players categorized into four groups, with a notable reshuffling in the top categories.
Source: Geo News
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, both previously placed in Category A, have been shifted to Category B. This decision reflects the PCB’s updated assessment of player performances and form. Meanwhile, Shan Masood, who had previously been in Category B, has now been demoted to Category D.
This year, the PCB expanded its roster to 30 contracted players, up from 27 last year. The new list includes 12 fresh additions, with players like Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Haris joining the ranks. Additionally, five players earned promotions due to stellar performances in the past year. Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan have all been elevated from Category C to Category B.
Despite these shifts, nine players retained their positions in the same categories, including prominent figures like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Saud Shakeel. However, eight players were left out this year, including Aamir Jamal and Kamran Ghulam, who were previously in Category D.
The new central contract list for the 2025-26 season is as follows:
Category B
Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category C
Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel
Category D
Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, Sufyan Moqim
These new central contracts signal the PCB’s commitment to recognizing both established and emerging talent, while also rewarding recent performances in national cricket.
