Significant changes have been implemented in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contracts for the 2025-26 season. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan face demotion, moving from Category A to Category B, resulting in reduced salaries. The PCB also demoted Shaheen Afridi, removing him from Category A. Consequently, there are no players currently in the top-tier category.
The PCB has offered central contracts to 30 players, categorized into three levels. Category B includes Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Sam Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha, among others. Category C features Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Haris. Players like Sufiyan Muqeem, Salman Mirza, and Hussain Talat will receive central contracts for the first time.
The contract categories are structured 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.
In addition to Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, three other players were demoted. Test captain Shan Masood was moved from Category B to D. Fast bowler Naseem Shah moved from Category B to C, and Shaheen Shah Afridi was demoted from Grade A to Grade B.