The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed its central contracts for the 2025-26 season, marked by notable changes, particularly concerning player salaries. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, key players in the Pakistan team, have been demoted from Category A to Category B. This adjustment translates into a decrease in their earnings under the new contract terms.
The PCB’s decision also includes demoting Shaheen Afridi from Category A. Interestingly, the new structure doesn’t feature any players in the top-tier Category A. The board has granted central contracts to 30 players in total, divided across three different categories.
Category B includes players such as Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Sam Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha. Category C comprises Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Haris. Some players, like Sufiyan Muqeem, Salman Mirza, and Hussain Talat, have been awarded central contracts for the first time.
The contracts are categorized as follows:
**Category B:** Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Sam Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
**Category C:** Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel.
**Category D:** Ahmad Danial, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, and Sufiyan Muqeem.
Besides Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the PCB has demoted three other players. Test captain Shan Masood was demoted from Category B to Category D. Fast bowler Naseem Shah moved from Category B to C, and Shaheen Shah Afridi was demoted from Grade A to Grade B.