Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) The announcement of central contracts for the 2025-26 season has sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity. Two of Pakistan’s most famous cricketers perform in the heart of the storm, Babar Azam And Muhammad RizwanDistinguished Category A To Category BThe decision arrived a few days after their controversial exclusion Pakistan‘S Asia Cup 2025 Squad is a symbol of an seismic change towards Pakistan cricket and has rapidly divided fans on social media.
Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan demoted in PCB Central Contracts
For years, Azam and Rizwan stood as a face of Pakistan’s batting order, dominated the forms and continuously carried forward the hopes of the country. Their fall from grace is not less than dramatic. Once in Category A, only two players, the pair now find themselves grouped with category B names like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris RaufAnd promising spinner Abrar Ahmed,
The decision stems from a change in philosophy. Chief selector Aqib javed The doubles T20I strike rate – Babur’s 129 and Rizwan’s 125 – have openly criticized – arguing that they are no longer fit in Pakistan’s new “aggressive cricket” blueprint. Neither with the characteristic of the Asia Cup and later the contract downgrade feels that the PCB is drawing a certain line under an era, with the characteristic of the Asia Cup, from the end of 2024.
The backlash has intensified. Fans question whether PCB acted very hard, while former pacer Tanveer Ahmed Even it has suggested that the pair consider retirement. If they feel humiliated, how to compare their prediction Virat Kohli Carefully managed his career infection.
Breaking contracts: money, status and recognition
The central contract in Pakistan cricket is more than a Pachek – they are a marker of status, recognition and impact. Traditionally, Category A Contracts, Price PKR 4.5 million per month (about $ 15,590), reserved for the true superstar of the nation. Conversely, Category B contracts provide PKR 3 million monthly, with PKR between C and D between 0.75 million to 1.5 million.
Apart from salary, centrally contracted players also receive 3% of PCB’s annual ICC revenue distribution, which further strengthens the reputation associated with these deals.
The list of 2025–26, however, indicates extensive changes. For the first time in recent memory, no player occupies Category A. The PCB has chosen to spread more wide recognition, expanding the pools from 27 to 30 players. Twelve new names, including Ahmed Daniil, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad AbbasAnd Sufayan MokimThe girl has earned contracts. Meanwhile, like artists Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Sam Ayub, Salman Ali AgaAnd Shadab Khan Category C to B has been rewarded with promotion.
At the same time, eight players of the previous cycle – including Aamir Jamal, Kamran Ghulam, And Usman Khan – Underlining the cruelty of Pakistan’s current selection policy, he completely lost its contracts.
However, the most signal signal is the deliberate absence of any category A player. By terminating the top bracket, PCB appears to avoid untouchable superstars and to strengthen a merit-based system, no matter how big the player’s previous contribution is.
Also read: 3 Major Reasons Why Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad Exclude Babar Azam is a perfect call
Here’s how fans reacted:
Official – PCB has demoted Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan in the B category in the Central Contract. pic.twitter.com/fpwfuma5rj
– Furkan (@Furqan_ashfaq77) August 19, 2025
⚡’follow kohli’s path ‘
Tanveer Ahmed urged Babar Azam and Rizwan to retire from international cricket pic.twitter.com/UVUDGNY4WV
– The Great India (@ThegreatIndiv) August 19, 2025
سلمان آغا تنوں فارمز مم مم Y کا مسقل رکن بھ ھ ھ اور از فارمز مز ں ٹٹ ٹٹ ٹٹ ٹک کک کک کک کک ھ ھک ٹک ٹک ٹک ٹک ٹک ٹک مز مز مز مز مز مز مز مز مف مف مف مف مف مف مف مف مف ک ک ک ک ک ک م م م م م م م م ا ک ک ک م ک ک ک ک ک ک ک
جب ہپ ہپ ہ پرو فائل رضوان اور بابر ھا تو تو تو تو تو تو تو تو تو تو تو دونوں اے ے مں مز ھے۔ھے۔ م م م اے اے اے اے اے اے اے ے ے dum د dum د د bhal
سلمان آغا کے ساھ زادت ہے اسکو اے کری مز مونا چاہ ھا.
لگا بابر/رضوان کو بو برابر کرنے سلمان b مز رزا
– 🏏علی شر پنڈ (@cric_pundit) August 19, 2025
🚨 Big News-Babbar Azam, M Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi fell from Category-A in 2025-26. #PakistAncrick #Babazam pic.twitter.com/fwghjq0suz
– Behram Khan Sanjar (@Behramsanzar7) August 19, 2025
List of players contacted this year’s Center:
Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Sam Ayub, Salman Ali Aga, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category C (10 players): Abdullah Shafiq, Faheem Ashraf,… pic.twitter.com/mtkQ975AW2
– @cricstate August 19, 2025
Rigorous truth
30 names, zero worthy of Category A!
Display-based central contracts means that if you cannot win for Pakistan, inconsistency will pull you down. Once columns, Babur and Rizwan now look like bricks.#PakistAncrick #Babazam #Rizwan #Centralcontracts #PCB #Cricket pic.twitter.com/ps4uydia50– Usman Khan (@USmann_Khann) August 19, 2025
The PCB itself has admitted that they do not have any grade player. Players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have also been thrown into the B category.
What is the fall of players with Pakistan cricket. pic.twitter.com/towngkearv
– Satya Prakash (@_satyaprakash08) August 19, 2025
🚨 Big News-Babbar Azam, M Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi fell from Category-A in 2025-26. #PakistAncrick #Babazam #zonauang #helevier pic.twitter.com/pairne5hlw
– Cricster (@cricsterworld) August 19, 2025
Babur Azam and Rizwan A fell into B category .. A single player was not able to make it in one category, so one category of place remains vacant .. While 12 new induction and 8 players were dropped in FRM CC#Cricket #PCB #Babarazam 𓃵 pic.twitter.com/lpusbjjilb
– Shakeel Khan Khattak (@Shakeelktkkhan) August 19, 2025
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan demoted Category B in PCB Central Contract. pic.twitter.com/gpn6Z1rsvd
– 𝐅 𝐅 𝐀 𝐙 𝐙 𝐍 (@faizanali_152) August 19, 2025
Also read: Fans react as Pakistan from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Asia Cup 2025 Squad
