In a move that’s got the whole country talking, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed its 2025-2026 central contracts list, and notably, there is no Category A this year. For the first time in history, the top tier has been scrapped entirely, giving a clear and concise message: performance matters more than star power.
The board has also expanded its central contract list from 27 to 30 players, dividing them equally across Categories B, C, and D, with 10 players in each category.
Star Power Takes a Hit as several stars get demoted in the 2025-2026 central contract list
Two of Pakistan’s most recognisable players, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have long been the team’s superstars, have been demoted from Category A to Category B. Giving a message to everyone, no one is bigger than the team.
Adding to the mix, the incumbent Test skipper, Shan Masood, has been dropped from Category B to the lowest category, Category D, a sign that maybe his reign as the Test captain is about to end.
New Talent and Rising Stars shine
2025-2026 central contracts reflect a shift in the overall strategy from PCB, as 12 new players have been brought into the 2025-2026 central contract fold, including the likes of 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.
Several players were rewarded for their recent form and were promoted from Category C to Category B, which includes Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan.
Meanwhile, a core was maintained as several players from last year’s central contract were retained in category C, including Abdullah Shafique, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Khurram Shahzad.
Eight players who were part of last year’s contracts, which included Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan, weren’t included in this year’s contract list.
What do the 2025-2026 central contracts mean for Pakistan Cricket
This announcement isn’t just administrative, it’s a wake-up call for the players, a way for PCB to tell players: “If you want it, then you have to earn it.” With big names demoted, new faces entering the squad, and big pay cuts all around, there’s a definite push from the PCB to produce results.
This overhaul comes at a critical juncture in time as Pakistan’s performance on the world stage has been below par for the last few years, including early World Cup exits and leadership shifts. Perhaps this is PCB’s way of fixing things.
Read more: What are PCB’s Priorities in Cricket now?
2025-2026 Central Contracts at a Glance.
Category B
Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen, Fakhar, Abrar, Rauf, Hasan Ali, Ayub, Shadab, Salman Agha.
Category C
Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel
Category D
Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Khushdil Shah, Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Salman Mirza, Sufyan Moqim
The central Contracts run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Performance over stardom
The 2025-2026 central contract list is more than a financial retainer; it’s a message of where Pakistan cricket is heading. From demoted legends to hungry newcomers, via strategic pay cuts, the PCB is giving a strong message: privileges are no longer handed out, they have to be earned.
