Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan SCRAPPED as Pakistan announce Central Contracts List 2025-26
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The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced its Men's Central Contracts for the upcoming 2025-26 international season, and no player has secured a position in Category A, as Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan also witnessed a drastic demotion.
Pakistan cricket has been going through a very weak phase in international cricket, as they have even slipped in the ICC rankings owing to their poor performances across all three formats. Their current Test ranking of 8th is an all-time low.
Just before the Asia Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board made their announcement on the revised player contracts for the upcoming 2025-26 season, and it includes several shocking changes, with even the veterans ignored for a top-sealing spot.
PCB announces Central Contracts for 2025-26; Alarming changes made
The PCB announced the central contract list, which has been awarded to 30 male cricketers for the upcoming international season of 2025-26. The contract will be considered effective from 1st July 2025 to the 30th of June 2026.
The most notable and striking change in this year's list is the absence of any player in Category A, since the remaining categories all have 10 players each. Compared to 27 players contracted last year, the board has decided to bring in 3 more members this time.
Notably, the two veteran cricketers from Pakistan, Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, had to undergo the grind owing to their poor performances. They have been demoted from Category A to Category B and have also been sacked from the T20I side, with the dagger of uncertainty also looming over their spot in the ODI side.
A dozen new entries and five promotions, but Babar Azam demoted; Pakistan is looking to revamp their squad
Though Babar Azam's demotion might have shocked many, the inclusion of several new and younger talents has also been made. They include the likes of Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.
While Babar Azam had to sustain a demotion, the likes of fellow cricketers from the previous contract have also seen a hike. Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan, all these players have been promoted from C to the B category.
All these indicate Babar's poor form and his growing concern about making any further comeback, since now he has been deprived of any further chances by the new coach. He has been snubbed from the Asia Cup 2025 as well.
Category-wise division of the Players List
Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category C (10 players): Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sajid Khan and Saud Shakeel
Category D (10 players): Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood and Sufyan Moqim
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