The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled its central contracts for the 2025–26 season, introducing significant changes in both structure and player categorization. The contracts will remain effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
In a major shift, the board has abolished the Category A contracts, which traditionally featured the country’s leading cricketers. Instead, the 30 contracted players have been divided evenly across Categories B, C, and D. Last year, 27 players were awarded contracts; this time, the number has risen to 30, with the inclusion of several fresh names.
Category B
The B category is headlined by some of Pakistan’s biggest stars, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, all of whom were previously in Category A. They are joined by Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha.
Category C
The C category features a blend of emerging and established players. The list includes Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Sohaibzada Farhan, Hassan Nawaz, and Noman Ali.
Category D
The D category comprises senior campaigners and rising talents. Among those placed here are Shan Masood, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Ahmed Daniyal, Salman Mirza, Khurram Shahzad, and Sufyan Muqeem.
Who’s in, who’s out?
According to the PCB, nine players have retained their previous categories, while eight players from last year’s contracts have been dropped altogether. At the same time, the new list features 12 fresh inclusions, reflecting the board’s attempt to strike a balance between experience and upcoming talent.
The absence of a Category A pool marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s contract system, signaling the PCB’s intent to push players across all formats to consistently prove themselves on the field.
