Pakistan omits Category A as Babar, Rizwan move to Category B

Pakistan’s cricket administration unveiled the central contracts for the 2025-26 season without a single player in the top Category A, a move that has upended the traditional pecking order and sparked immediate debate. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were moved from Category A to Category B, joining a broadened list that introduces 12 fresh names while eight players from the previous cycle were left out. The decision comes amid a broader shift toward a more aggressive playing philosophy intended to shape Pakistan’s white-ball blueprint ahead of Asia Cup and a packed international calendar.

Central contracts in Pakistan have long been about more than pay, acting as markers of status, influence and selection leverage. The new framework hands a larger share of the spotlight to a wider cohort and signals a deliberate move away from a reliance on “untouchable” stars. While Category A historically carried higher monthly remuneration and a greater share of the PCB’s ICC revenue distribution, the present list distributes recognition more broadly. The specifics of the structure—Category A at roughly PKR 4.5 million per month, Category B at PKR 3 million, and the lower tiers ranging to...