The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the central contracts for the 2025–26 season, unveiling new salary structures and player categories. Surprisingly, no player has been placed in Category A, marking the first time in recent years that Pakistan’s top stars are not in the highest bracket.
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| PCB Central Contracts 2025–26 |
Instead, leading cricketers such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Fakhar Zaman have all been awarded Category B contracts, each worth PKR 3 million per month.
PCB Central Contracts 2025–26: Full Players List
Here’s the complete breakdown of 30 contracted players, their categories, and approximate monthly salaries (before bonuses and ICC revenue share):
| Player | Category | Monthly Salary (PKR) |
|---|---|---|
Abrar Ahmed | B | 3,000,000 |
| Babar Azam | B | 3,000,000 |
| Fakhar Zaman | B | 3,000,000 |
| Haris Rauf | B | 3,000,000 |
| Hasan Ali | B | 3,000,000 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | B | 3,000,000 |
| Saim Ayub | B | 3,000,000 |
| Salman Ali Agha | B | 3,000,000 |
| Shadab Khan | B | 3,000,000 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | B | 3,000,000 |
| Abdullah Shafique | C | 1,000,000 |
| Faheem Ashraf | C | 1,000,000 |
| Hasan Nawaz | C | 1,000,000 |
| Mohammad Haris | C | 1,000,000 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | C | 1,000,000 |
| Naseem Shah | C | 1,000,000 |
| Noman Ali | C | 1,000,000 |
| Sahibzada Farhan | C | 1,000,000 |
| Sajid Khan | C | 1,000,000 |
| Saud Shakeel | C | 1,000,000 |
| Ahmed Daniyal | D | 750,000 |
| Hussain Talat | D | 750,000 |
| Khurram Shahzad | D | 750,000 |
| Khushdil Shah | D | 750,000 |
| Mohammad Abbas | D | 750,000 |
| Mohammad Abbas Afridi | D | 750,000 |
| Mohammad Wasim Jnr | D | 750,000 |
| Salman Mirza | D | 750,000 |
| Shan Masood | D | 750,000 |
| Sufyan Moqim | D | 750,000 |
Key Highlights of PCB’s 2025–26 Central Contracts
No Category A players: For the first time, even top stars like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi are placed in Category B.Category B Salary: PKR 3 million/month (~USD 10,700).
Why No Category A This Year?
Reports suggest the PCB wanted to restructure salary distribution to avoid favoritism and balance pay scales across the board. The absence of Category A contracts might also reflect internal debates about performance consistency and team-building strategy.
This means the board is encouraging all-format performers to prove themselves before being rewarded with top-tier recognition.
FAQ's
Q1. Who are the top-paid players in PCB central contracts 2025–26?
Players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Fakhar Zaman are the highest earners, each receiving PKR 3 million per month.
Q2. Why is there no Category A in 2025–26 contracts?
The PCB has removed Category A this season to bring balance in salaries and possibly motivate players to perform consistently across formats.
Q3. How much does a Category C player earn?
A Category C player earns PKR 1 million per month before bonuses.
Q4. How many players were awarded central contracts in 2025–26?
A total of 30 players were given contracts across Categories B, C, and D.
Q5. Do players earn more apart from central contracts?
Yes. Cricketers also receive match fees, win bonuses, sponsorships, and ICC revenue shares, which significantly increase overall income.
 Central Contracts 2025–26: Full List, Salaries, and Categories){kind=link}