In a dramatic move after recent performances, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to offer a Category A deal to anyone for the 2025-26 central contract period. This is a major change, with former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who were on Category A deals last year, demoted to Category B.
The PCB said that not having a player in the elite level is based on performance, with the authorities elaborating that no one had produced the consistency or influence sufficient enough to merit a Category A contract.
Babar and Rizwan Sent Downgraded During Overall Team Performance Lowly
Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan also had disappointing seasons across formats in the last 12 months. Sources close to the PCB have revealed that “the team’s performance did not favour any player worthy of a Category A contract.
Test captain Shan Masood, who was placed in Category B last year, has seen the biggest drop he is now placed in Category D. Despite this, the number of centrally contracted players has increased from 27 to 30, with 10 players now in each tier: B, C, and D.
Fakhar Zaman Returns, Several Players Promoted
Veteran opener Fakhar Zaman, excluded from the central contract list a year ago due to discipline issues, returns to Category B.
Players promoted to Category B include:
Abrar Ahmed
Saim Ayub
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Haris Rauf
Salman Ali Agha
Shadab Khan
They have been promoted to Category B as a reflection of their recent performance.
New Entrants and Eliminations from Central Contracts
Some players have been given central contracts for the first time:
Sufyan Muqim
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Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Haris
But a few high-profile names have opted out of the contract system altogether, including:
Aamir Jamal
Kamran Ghulam
Mir Hamza
Irfan Khan Niazi
Usman Khan
Category A Contract: Distinguished, But Not Always Guaranteed
The Category A contract is the most distinguished tier of the PCB’s central contract hierarchy, with the greatest monetary rewards and benefits. But this year, the PCB has decided not to award it to anyone, which highlights its emphasis on performance-based rewards.
In its official announcement, the board said:
“Notably, no player has been selected for Category A in this cycle.”
The PCB also added that players can only get promoted to Category A if their performance on the field warrants it.
Last Year of the historic Three-Year Contract Agreement
This contract cycle is the last year of the record-breaking three-year agreement signed between players and the PCB in 2023. The deal had record-high raises and a fixed model of revenue-sharing on the basis of the PCB’s earnings from the ICC. The present contracts will be retroactive to July 1, 2025, and will expire in June 2026, following which the entire revision will be done.
Complete List of Centrally Contracted Players for 2025–26
Category B:
Babar Azam
Mohammad Rizwan
Fakhar Zaman
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Abrar Ahmed
Haris Rauf
Hasan Ali
Saim Ayub
Salman Ali Agha
Shadab Khan
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
The lack of a Category A recipient for the 2025–26 season is a clear message from the PCB elite status will be achieved through repeated high-level performances. As the last year of the historic three-year contract rolls on, the spotlight will be on Pakistan’s best cricketers to determine who can step up to the challenge and reclaim a place in the board’s highest category.
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