ISLAMABAD – In a dramatic overhaul of its annual central contracts, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stunned the cricketing fraternity by demoting star cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to Category B while completely scrapping the prestigious Category A for the 2025–26 season. The move, effective from July 1, 2025, has sparked intense debate in cricketing circles as no player has been placed in the highest category for the first time in history.
According to the official announcement, the number of centrally contracted players has now increased from 27 to 30, reflecting PCB’s efforts to widen the talent pool and prepare for long-term competitiveness. However, the absence of Category A has raised eyebrows, with many interpreting it as a strong message to senior players that past performance and reputation alone will not guarantee elite status.
Category B now features ten players, including Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, and the demoted duo Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. While the shift keeps them in the higher earning bracket, it is still regarded as a steep fall for two of Pakistan’s most prominent names in world cricket.
Meanwhile, Category C and Category D contracts have also been expanded, each hosting ten players, reflecting PCB’s vision of rewarding emerging performers and strengthening bench depth.
This decision comes on the heels of another major shock—the exclusion of both Babar and Rizwan from Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. Analysts view the back-to-back setbacks as a clear indication that PCB is recalibrating its strategies, particularly in T20 cricket, where questions over Babar’s strike rate and adaptability against spin have frequently surfaced.
Cricket experts suggest that the latest contract structure is not just administrative housekeeping but rather a symbolic reset designed to break old hierarchies and enforce meritocracy. “This is a wake-up call. PCB wants to make it clear that performances in modern cricket matter more than name value,” commented one insider.
While supporters of Babar and Rizwan argue that the duo’s experience remains invaluable for Pakistan’s cricketing ambitions, others see this as the perfect opportunity to nurture fresh talent and inject new energy into the squad. The upcoming series and international assignments will be a litmus test for this bold restructuring and its impact on Pakistan’s cricketing future.
With no player enjoying Category A privileges, one thing is certain—the PCB has laid down a firm marker: earning top-tier recognition must be backed by extraordinary performances, not past glories.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.