PCB Central Contracts 2025-26: Babar Azam & Rizwan Demoted, Shan Masood in Category D
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the central contracts for the 2025-26 season, giving deals to 30 players across three groups. Last year, the list had 27 players, so three more have been added this time. What surprised many was that no player was given a place in the top A category.
Former skipper Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who were in that group before, have both been moved down to Category B. The contracts are now divided into three levels – B, C, and D with 10 players in each. This year’s list also includes 12 fresh faces, while eight players from last year missed out.
Shaheen Stays, Babar & Rizwan Demoted, Shan Masood Dropped to Category D
Only one cricketer kept his place in Category B this year – Shaheen Afridi. The left-arm fast bowler now has nine new teammates in the same group. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan moved down from Category A, while five others, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan, were moved up from Category C.
The biggest surprise was the decision regarding Test captain Shan Masood. Masood, who was promoted from Category C to B last year, has been relegated to Category D this time around and it seems like another big decision from the PCB might be on its way before Pakistan's campaign in the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle begins.
🚨The Pakistan Cricket Board has released the Central Contracts list for 2025-26🚨
— SportsProMax (@TheSportsProMax) August 19, 2025
▪️ No player has been in Category A
▪️ Babar Azam and #MohammadRizwan Rizwan demoted to Category B
▪️ Shan Masood moved to Category D
▪️ 30 players included in total#pcbcentralcontract #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/JNIKxgWr4P
Pakistan men's contracted players list for 2025-26
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| B (10) | Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| C (10) | Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel |
| D (10) | Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, Sufyan Moqim |
Twelve new players have been included in the squad this time, 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. Meanwhile, eight players from last year’s list of 27 missed out, including Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan.