The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced significant changes to the central contracts of the national cricket team, with notable promotions, demotions, and exclusions. A total of 25 players have been awarded contracts across various categories.
Star pacer Shaheen Afridi has been shifted from Category A to Category B. Meanwhile, skipper Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan retain their places in Category A, affirming their continued leadership roles within the team.
Category B now includes Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Shan Masood, with key performers Fakhar Zaman and Sarfaraz Ahmed notably absent from the list altogether.
The PCB also welcomed Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan into the central contract framework. Players like Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafiq, Salman Agha, and Saud Shakeel have been placed in Category C, joined by promising names such as Haris Rauf, Saeem Ayub, and Abrar Ahmad.
Category D, which highlights emerging talent, includes Aamir Jamal, Wasim Jr., Mohammad Huraira, and Mir Hamza. Others in this entry-level tier are Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan, and Irfan Niazi, alongside Haseebullah Khan, Abbas Afridi, and Kamran Ghulam.
The reshuffling marks the PCB's ongoing efforts to foster competitiveness and encourage emerging players to make their mark on the national cricket stage.
