PCB Downgrades Babar Azam, Rizwan No Category A Contracts

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its central contracts for 30 male cricketers for the 2025-26 season, notably demoting star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Category A to Category B, with no players selected in the top-tier Category A this year. This decision reflects Pakistan's ongoing efforts to rebuild its cricketing culture following disappointing performances in recent global tournaments and changes in captaincy and coaching staff. The PCB expanded the contracted pool from 27 to 30 players, including 12 new additions, and promoted five players to Category B due to their strong performances over the past year. Key promotions include Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan, while some players, including former Test captain Shan Masood and fast bowler Naseem Shah, were demoted. Eight players from the previous cycle, such as Aamir Jamal and Usman Khan, did not receive contracts this year. The PCB aims to strengthen squad depth and focus on future development amid a challenging period for Pakistan cricket.