Preliminary talks underway for new PCB central contracts

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has commenced preliminary discussions on central contracts for national players for the 2025–26 season, Geo Super reported on Sunday.

The upcoming cycle marks the final year of the three-year financial structure introduced during Zaka Ashraf’s tenure as PCB chairman in 2023.

Sources suggest that while significant changes to the list of centrally contracted players are not expected, the board may consider minor adjustments within existing contract categories during the review process.

Cricketers who deliver standout performances during the 2024-25 season could be rewarded with inclusion or promotion in the contract list.

Players like Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, and Faheem Ashraf, who were not part of last year’s list, are under consideration for a comeback.

Additionally, top domestic performers may be accommodated in Category D, particularly under the Emerging Players bracket.

The current contracts are set to expire on June 30. Despite this, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is unlikely to make structural changes, maintaining the continuity seen in the previous year.

In 2024-25, the PCB announced the list of centrally contracted players on October 27, distributed across four categories:

In the 2024–25 season, the PCB announced its list of centrally contracted players on October 27, distributing them across four categories. Category A included two players: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Category B featured Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Shan Masood.

Category C comprised eight players, including Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and Shadab Khan.

Meanwhile, Category D consisted of Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Usman Khan, totalling 11 players.

As part of its strategy to incentivise and nurture emerging talent, the PCB awarded central contracts for the first time last year to five players: Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan.

Prominent players, including Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan, were notable exclusions from the previous list.