PCB Central Contracts: No Category A Awards Amid Poor Performances
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Demoted
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the only Pakistan players to hold a Category A contract in the previous cycle, have been downgraded to Category B in the latest PCB central contracts list for the 2025–26 season. Both star batters had unremarkable years across formats, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board to reevaluate their status in the new Pakistan team contracts structure.
Shan Masood Moved to Category D
Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood, who was in Category B last season, has now been placed in Category D. Each of the four tiers now contains ten players, increasing the total number of Pakistan players with contracts from 27 to 30. Fakhar Zaman, who missed out on a contract in 2024 following disciplinary issues, returns to Category B this year.
No Player in Category A Due to Performance Review
In a clear message, the Pakistan cricket board confirmed that no player has been awarded the prestigious Category A contract this season. The decision followed a player performance review, where officials concluded that overall team output and individual records did not justify any inclusion at the highest level. The PCB also clarified that only outstanding player performances in upcoming matches would merit promotion to Category A.
Promoted and Newly Contracted Players
Several players have benefited from promotions despite the absence of a Category A pool. Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Haris Rauf, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan have all moved up to Category B. Additionally, Hasan Nawaz, Sufyan Muqim, and Mohammad Haris—who were previously without central contracts—have been added to the list, marking their first inclusion in Pakistan cricket contracts.
Players Left Out of Central Contracts
The PCB also confirmed that a number of names have been dropped from the central list. Notable omissions include Aamir Jamal, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Irfan Khan Niazi, and Usman Khan, reflecting the board’s new performance-based evaluation.
Final Year of Landmark Three-Year Deal
This season marks the final year of the landmark three-year deal signed between the players and the PCB. The agreement brought record pay raises and, for the first time, a fixed share of ICC revenue. The Pakistan cricket board has maintained the same arrangement, adjusting only the placement of players across categories. The contracts, backdated to July 1, 2025, will remain valid for 12 months before undergoing another revision.
Pakistan Men’s Central Contract List 2025–26
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 Jr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, Sufyan Muqim