Pakistan have announced their central contract list for the 2025/26 season, rewarding five standout performers with promotions following consistent displays over the past year.
Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan have all been elevated to Category B, recognising their contributions across formats. They join established names such as former captain Babar Azam, opener Fakhar Zaman, and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi in the 10-member group.
In total, 30 players have received central contracts for the period beginning 1 July 2025 through to 30 June 2026. Notably, no players have been placed in Category A, a significant shift from last year’s structure.
Only Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan held Category A contracts in 2024/25, but both have now been demoted to Category B for the upcoming year. The duo were also recently left out of Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Asia Cup, underlining the national selectors’ new direction.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has added 12 new faces to the contract list this year, a move signalling focus on developing bench strength and nurturing emerging talent.
Full list of centrally contracted players for 2025/26:
Category B (10 players):
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Abrar Ahmed
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Babar Azam
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Fakhar Zaman
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Haris Rauf
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Hasan Ali
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Mohammad Rizwan
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Saim Ayub
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Salman Ali Agha
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Shadab Khan
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Shaheen Afridi
Category C (10 players):
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Abdullah Shafique
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Faheem Ashraf
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Hasan Nawaz
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Mohammad Haris
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Mohammad Nawaz
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Naseem Shah
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Noman Ali
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Sahibzada Farhan
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Sajid Khan
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Saud Shakeel
Category D (10 players):
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Ahmed Daniyal
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Hussain Talat
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Khurram Shahzad
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Khushdil Shah
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Mohammad Abbas
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Mohammad Abbas Afridi
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Mohammad Wasim Jnr
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Salman Mirza
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Shan Masood
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Sufyan Moqim
The absence of Category A contracts, combined with notable demotions and fresh inclusions, reflects a shifting landscape within Pakistan cricket as the board places increasing emphasis on youth development and performance-based rewards.