Central Contracts 2025-26: PCB demotes Babar Azam and Rizwan in shocking move

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released the list of central contracts for male cricketers, awarding contracts to 30 players for the 2025-26 season, which will run from the 1st of July 2025, to June 30, 2026, for all international cricket scheduled within the preferred window of January 1 to December 31.

In a major move, no player has been put in Category A, and 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup captain Babar Azam has been downgraded, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan to Category B, while almost everyone from the cricketing fraternity has reacted negatively.

Widening the pool

The PCB has cast a wider net this season, increasing the size of the list from 27 contracts to 30 contracts this time. In total, 12 players have been honoured from the new list, highlighting the commitment of the Board to invest in new players for the age-grade levels for the future.

The new contracts are Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.

Promotions and Retentions

Strong performances both domestically and internationally have resulted in five players being promoted from Category C to B:

• Abrar Ahmed
• Haris Rauf
• Saim Ayub
• Salman Ali Agha
• Shadab Khan

Nine players have retained their positions, including Shaheen Shah Afridi (B), Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan (C), Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (D).

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Players who missed out

Eight players have been disappointed this year, losing their contracts, including Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan, who were in Category D last season.

Complete list of contracted players for 2025-26

Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Category C (10 players): Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel

Category D (10 players): Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, Sufyan Moqim

The lack of a Category A group and the relegation of the highest-profile cricketers from Pakistan represent a daring and controversial action on the part of the PCB. The 2025-26 season has already given fingers crossed for a packed schedule, and we are left to consider the aftermath - how this new structure will affect team dynamics and player performance going forward.