In a dramatic shake-up of Pakistan cricket’s hierarchy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its central contracts for the 2025–26 season, demoting star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Category A to Category B. In a first for the national team, no player has been awarded a Category A contract, signaling a major reset in the board’s approach to performance-based rewards and accountability.
The new contracts, effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, expand the player pool from 27 to 30, with ten players each placed in Categories B, C, and D. The absence of Category A selections reflects the board’s dissatisfaction with recent performances, including early exits from marquee tournaments and inconsistent bilateral results.
🧭 PCB’s Contract Restructuring: A Performance-Driven Statement
The PCB’s decision to exclude all players from Category A is a clear message that reputation alone will no longer guarantee top-tier rewards. Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were the only Category A players in the previous cycle, but their demotion follows a string of underwhelming performances in the 2024 ICC Champions Trophy, the 2023 and 2024 T20 World Cups, and bilateral series against Bangladesh and West Indies.
| Contract Category | Number of Players | Notable Names | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category B | 10 | Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi | Demotion from Category A |
| Category C | 10 | Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Saud Shakeel | Retained from previous cycle |
| Category D | 10 | Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah | New additions and retentions |
| Category A | 0 | — | No player selected |
📉 Performance-Based Demotions: Babar and Rizwan Under Scrutiny
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s former captain and one of its most celebrated batters, has faced mounting criticism for his leadership and form. Mohammad Rizwan, the current ODI skipper, has also struggled to deliver consistent performances across formats. Their demotion to Category B reflects the PCB’s shift toward meritocracy.
| Player | Previous Category | New Category | Reason for Demotion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | A | B | Poor form, leadership concerns |
| Mohammad Rizwan | A | B | Inconsistent performances, ODI struggles |
🆙 Promotions and New Entrants
While Babar and Rizwan faced demotions, five players earned promotions from Category C to B, including Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan. These players have shown promise in domestic and international fixtures, and their elevation reflects PCB’s intent to reward emerging talent.
| Promoted Players | From Category | To Category | Performance Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abrar Ahmed | C | B | Consistent wicket-taking in Tests |
| Haris Rauf | C | B | Key death bowler in T20s |
| Saim Ayub | C | B | Explosive top-order batting |
| Salman Ali Agha | C | B | All-round contributions in ODIs |
| Shadab Khan | C | B | Vice-captaincy and spin leadership |
Additionally, twelve new players have been added to the contracts list, including Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Haris, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.
🧾 Full List of PCB Central Contracts 2025–26
| Category B Players | Category C Players | Category D Players |
|---|---|---|
| Abrar Ahmed | Abdullah Shafique | Ahmed Daniyal |
| Babar Azam | Faheem Ashraf | Hussain Talat |
| Fakhar Zaman | Hasan Nawaz | Khurram Shahzad |
| Haris Rauf | Mohammad Haris | Khushdil Shah |
| Hasan Ali | Mohammad Nawaz | Mohammad Abbas |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Naseem Shah | Mohammad Abbas Afridi |
| Saim Ayub | Noman Ali | Mohammad Wasim Jnr |
| Salman Ali Agha | Sahibzada Farhan | Salman Mirza |
| Shadab Khan | Sajid Khan | Shan Masood |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Saud Shakeel | Sufyan Moqim |
❌ Players Dropped from Contracts
Eight players who were part of the previous cycle have been excluded from the 2025–26 contracts. These include Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan.
| Dropped Players | Previous Category | Reason for Exclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Aamir Jamal | D | Lack of international appearances |
| Mohammad Huraira | D | Inconsistent domestic form |
| Usman Khan | D | Fitness and form issues |
🧠 PCB’s Strategic Shift: Accountability and Youth Focus
The PCB’s revamped contract structure reflects a broader strategic shift toward accountability, youth development, and performance-based incentives. By expanding the pool to 30 players and eliminating Category A, the board aims to foster competition and motivate players to earn top-tier status through consistent excellence.
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that the contracts are part of a long-term vision to rebuild Pakistan cricket’s global standing. “We are investing in future stars while holding our senior players to higher standards,” he said.
📊 Comparative Snapshot: 2024–25 vs 2025–26 Contracts
| Metric | 2024–25 Cycle | 2025–26 Cycle | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Contracted Players | 27 | 30 | +3 |
| Category A Players | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| Category B Players | 8 | 10 | +2 |
| Category C Players | 9 | 10 | +1 |
| Category D Players | 8 | 10 | +2 |
🏏 Implications for Pakistan Cricket
The absence of Category A players and the demotion of senior stars could have ripple effects on team morale and leadership dynamics. With the T20 World Cup 2026 and ICC Test Championship fixtures on the horizon, the PCB’s bold move will be tested in high-stakes environments.
Analysts believe the shake-up could either galvanize the squad or deepen internal divisions, depending on how senior players respond to the challenge.
📌 Conclusion
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s 2025–26 central contracts overhaul marks a defining moment in its pursuit of accountability and renewal. By demoting Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and eliminating Category A altogether, the PCB has sent a clear message: performance, not pedigree, will determine rewards.
As Pakistan cricket enters a new phase, the spotlight will be on its emerging stars to rise to the occasion—and on its veterans to reclaim their place through grit and results.
—
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available sports announcements and media reports as of August 19, 2025. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute official endorsement or financial advice.
