The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced new central contracts for 25 players, revealing several changes. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been moved to a lower category. Former captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have retained top-tier contracts. Fast bowler Naseem Shah, test captain Shan Masood, and Afridi are now in category B.
The PCB did not provide reasons for Afridi’s downgrade. Masood’s contract depends on him continuing as the test team captain. Masood had six consecutive test losses before Pakistan’s recent test series win against England.
The contracts are effective from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Batters Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz are notable omissions. The PCB did not explain why these players were left out.
Spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who played key roles in Pakistan’s victories against England, are in category C. Ali’s contract is dependent on his fitness.
All-rounder Shadab Khan and fast bowler Haris Rauf were also downgraded, likely due to Pakistan’s poor performance in white-ball cricket, including an early exit from the T20 World Cup.
In an effort to promote new talent, the PCB offered first-time central contracts to five players: Khurram Shahzad, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan. The PCB stated this move was part of its “strategy to incentivize, encourage and reward talented and emerging cricketers.”
Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan.
Category B: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Shan Masood (subject to captaincy).
Category C: Abdullah Shafique, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Noman Ali (subject to fitness), Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub.
Category D: Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Hurraira, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan, Irfan Khan, Haseebullah Khan, Abbas Afridi, Kamran Ghulam.
