 "Babar, Rizwan demoted as Pakistan axes A category in revamped central contracts for 2025-26")
After being snubbed from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, veteran Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have suffered another setback. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demoted both players to Category B in the revised central contract for the 2025-26 season.
Notably, Babar and Rizwan were the ones to be placed in Category A last year, and their demotion to Category B means no one is featuring in the A category anymore.
While Babar and Rizwan suffered a demotion, but it was not the case with every player. Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan have all moved up to Category B. Besides that, the roster saw nine new entrants- Ahmed Daniyal, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Haris, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufyan Moqim.
“Compared to last year’s list of 27 contracted players, the PCB has expanded the pool to 30, including 12 fresh additions, highlighting the emergence of promising new talent and the Board’s strategic focus on squad depth and future development,” a PCB statement read.
What could be the reason behind Babar and Rizwan’s demotion?
Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been out of form for a significant period. As senior batters expected to lead the team, they have struggled with prolonged inconsistency. They recently featured in the ODI leg of the West Indies tour, where as well they failed to live up to the expectations of fans.
Azam got the start in the first ODI, but could not convert his 47 into a big score. He had a forgetful rest of the tour, as he got out on a duck in the next match and was dismissed at 9 in the 3rd ODI. Rizwan produced almost identical numbers. He scored a clinical 53 in the first ODI, then perished on 16 in the second ODI, and then suffered a golden duck in the third ODI. Consequently, Pakistan lost the series 1-2.
The series against West Indies might not be the only parameter that PCB would have taken into consideration to demote their status in the contract, but it likely served as the final nail in the coffin.
Pakistan 2025-26 central contracts
Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category C (10 players): Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan and 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 and Sufyan Moqim.
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