That list is headed by former skipper Babar, star opener Fakhar Zaman and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, with Abrar, Rauf, Ayub, Ali Agha and Shadab joining the group until at least June 30. With Babar and Rizwan demoted from Category A, there are no other players in the respective central contracts in the list
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (Pic: File Pic)
As the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the men's central contract list of players for 2025/26, premier batting duo Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been demoted.
Previously placed in Category A, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have now been demoted to Category B.
Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan have been rewarded for their performances in the previous 12 months and were upgraded on the side's central contract list.
The quintet performed admirably over the past year and earned a promotion to Category B on the latest contract list that Pakistan unveiled on Tuesday.
In all, 30 players have secured central contracts for the year starting July 1, with 10 players listed in Category B.
The list is headed by former skipper Babar, star opener Fakhar Zaman and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, with Abrar, Rauf, Ayub, Ali Agha and Shadab joining the group until at least June 30.
A further 10 players are listed in both Category C and Category D, with Pakistan choosing against having any of their stars in Category A for the next period.
With Babar and Rizwan demoted from Category A, there are no other players in the respective central contracts. The duo was also sidelined from Pakistan's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
Considering the future development and rising stars from the domestic circuit, there have been a total of 12 additions in the contract list.
List of this year's centrally contacted players:
Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi
Category C (10 players): Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel
Category D (10 players): Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, Sufyan Moqim.
Pakistan Squad for the Asia Cup 2025: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim.
(With ANI Inputs)
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