The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled its central contracts for the 2025-26 international season, a bold move that signals a new era for Pakistan cricket. Announced on August 19, 2025, the contracts, effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, spotlight 30 male cricketers across Categories B, C, and D, with no players in the elite Category A for the first time in years. This overhaul, expanding from last year’s 27-player roster, introduces 12 fresh talents, rewards standout performers with promotions, and delivers a wake-up call to underperformers like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who face demotions. As Pakistan gears up for a packed international calendar, including the Asia Cup 2025, this strategic reshuffle aims to blend youth and experience while sparking debates among fans.
A New-Look Squad:
The PCB’s decision to expand its contract pool to 30 players underscores a focus on squad depth and future-proofing. The 12 new additions—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—bring a mix of raw potential and proven domestic form. Mohammad Haris, a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, and Sufyan Moqim, a promising spinner, highlight the PCB’s bet on young guns to refresh a team stung by recent disappointments, including a lackluster T20 World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy. This influx aligns with global trends, as boards like India and Australia also prioritize emerging talent to stay competitive in a fast-evolving cricketing landscape.
Key New Entrants to Watch:
- Mohammad Haris (Category C): Known for aggressive T20 batting, he’s poised to challenge Rizwan’s spot.
- Sufyan Moqim (Category D): A left-arm spinner with domestic success, eyeing a Test breakthrough.
- Hasan Ali (Category B): The veteran pacer’s return signals faith in his red-ball resurgence.
Rising Stars Steal the Spotlight
Five players earned promotions from Category C to B, reflecting standout performances in 2024-25. Abrar Ahmed’s mystery spin, Haris Rauf’s fiery pace, Saim Ayub’s versatile batting, Salman Ali Agha’s all-round grit, and Shadab Khan’s white-ball wizardry have secured them higher pay and prestige. This move rewards consistency while sending a message: performance trumps reputation. Saim Ayub, in particular, is a breakout star, with his 300+ runs in domestic T20s and Test promise making him a cornerstone for Pakistan’s future across formats.
| Player | New Category | Key 2024-25 Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Abrar Ahmed | B | 35 wickets in Tests |
| Haris Rauf | B | 20+ T20I wickets |
| Saim Ayub | B | 400 runs across formats |
| Salman Ali Agha | B | 500 runs, 15 wickets |
| Shadab Khan | B | All-round T20 impact |
Core Players Hold Ground
Nine players retained their categories, providing continuity. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman stay in Category B, anchoring the pace and batting units, respectively. In Category C, Abdullah Shafique, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Saud Shakeel remain fixtures, especially in Tests, where Pakistan’s 2-1 series win over England in 2024 showcased their spin-heavy strategy. Category D’s Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr continue as emerging prospects, with Wasim’s death-over bowling earning praise.
The Big Demotions:
The absence of Category A is the headline-grabber, with former captain Babar Azam and ODI skipper Mohammad Rizwan dropping to Category B after underwhelming performances. Babar’s lean patch—averaging under 30 in T20Is and Tests in 2024—coupled with his exclusion from the Asia Cup 2025 squad, reflects the PCB’s ruthless stance. Rizwan, criticized for a slow T20 strike rate, faces similar scrutiny, with Mohammad Haris nipping at his heels. This demotion, affecting Pakistan’s biggest stars, could dent morale but also lights a fire under them to reclaim top billing. As X user @CricketPulse tweeted, “Babar and Rizwan in B? PCB’s sending a clear signal: shape up or ship out.”
Eight Players Left in the Cold
The omission of eight Category D players—Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan—stings. Aamir Jamal’s all-round flair and Kamran Ghulam’s domestic runs made them fan favorites, but inconsistent international showings cost them. This cull highlights the PCB’s high-stakes approach, prioritizing form over potential, though it risks alienating talent that could shine elsewhere, like in lucrative T20 leagues.
Global Context and Implications
Pakistan’s contract shake-up mirrors a global shift toward performance-driven squads. With cricket’s economic stakes rising—T20 leagues alone generated $2 billion globally in 2024—the PCB aims to balance competitiveness with financial prudence. The absence of Category A contracts, previously valued at PKR 4.5 million monthly, saves costs but may push stars like Babar to prioritize franchise cricket, potentially weakening national loyalty. Internationally, rivals like India (with 25 contracted players) and England (27) maintain similar structures, but Pakistan’s bold youth focus could give it an edge in emerging formats like T20.
For fans, the revamp fuels optimism and debate. Will new blood like Saim Ayub outshine veterans? Can Babar reclaim his throne? The 2025-26 season, with fixtures against Australia and South Africa, will test this new-look squad. As the PCB bets on depth, the world watches to see if Pakistan can translate contracts into trophies.
