Afghanistan Cricket Board releases 2025 Central Contract list of emerging players

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has revealed the list of central contracted players of emerging stars and many renowned players, including the captain of the ODIs, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and the star performer Rashid Khan. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the wicket-keeper batter, is also on the list of A-grade players.

Mohammed Nabi, who has already retired from the 50-over format after the end of the Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year and will continue to be part of the shortest format due to the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, has been kept in the A-category. On the other hand, there are a few emerging stars whom the board has trusted to bring success in the future.

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Ibrahim Zadran, the opening batter of the ODI side, is in the B category of the contract list. In 36 innings, he has nailed 1656 runs at an average of over 50 and a strike rate of nearly 83, thanks to six centuries and seven half-centuries at the best score of 177 that he got against Australia during the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Afghanistan Cricket Board reveals 2025 Central Contract list

Rashid was undoubtedly bound to be part of the A-grade, having scored 1384 runs at a strike rate of over 100 in ODIs, gathering 467 runs in T20Is, and picking up 360 wickets in the two white ball formats of the game. Nangeyalia Kharote, the all-rounder, is the coming star for Afghanistan, as they have already started to put attention behind the player.

🚨 Afghan players with Central contract :

A - Rashid, Gurbaz , Hashmat, Azmat, Nangeyalia, Nabi, Gulbadin, Karim, Naveed, Naveen Zazai, Ishaq.

B - Ibrahim, Rahmat, Fazalhaq, Mujeeb, farid, Nijat, Zia, AMG, Zahir, Kamal, Sharfuddin, Riaz, Malik, Najib, Sediq, bahir, Darwish pic.twitter.com/IpKKcRRsdZ

— ACB Xtra (@acb_190) July 17, 2025

Gulbadin Naib, who has the knack of snatching momentum in the game with both bat and ball in hand, is also in the A-category along with Karim Janat, the 26-year-old bowling all-rounder. Azmatullah Omarzai, who has slowly started to gain fame in the white-ball formats with his bowling skills and power hitting late in the order, has also been given the A-grade category.  

Afghanistan reveals list of central contracted players for the 2025 season

Grade A - Rashid, Gurbaz, Hashmat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangeyalia, Nabi, Gulbadin, Karim, Naveed, Naveen Zazai, Ishaq.

Grade B - Ibrahim, Rahmat, Fazalhaq, Mujeeb, Farid, Nijat, Zia, AMG, Zahir, Kamal, Sharfuddin, Riaz, Malik, Najib, Sediq, Bahir, Darwish