Shan Masood retains PCB contract 'contingent on captaincy' ; Babar and Rizwan are sole players in top category

Shan Masood retains PCB contract 'subject to captaincy'; Babar and Rizwan are sole players in top category

Shan Masood retains PCB contract 'contingent on captaincy'; Babar and Rizwan are sole players in top category

Shan Masood retains his PCB contract, but it hinges on his captaincy role; Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remain in the top contract category.

In a shake-up, Fakhar Zaman misses out on a central contract for the first time in eight years, as the PCB announced its list of 25 contracted players on Sunday.

The delayed central contracts for Pakistan’s men’s cricket team have finally been unveiled, four months after their initial due date.

Following Pakistan's recent Test series win under his leadership, Shan Masood keeps his place in Category B. However, his continuation in this category is uncertain, as the PCB specified that his contract is "subject to captaincy." This clause, disclosed publicly just after Pakistan's comeback series win over England, has sparked speculation about Masood’s tenure, given that Pakistan lost the first six Tests under his captaincy.

Babar Azam, despite missing the last two Tests against England due to a dip in form, remains in the top category, alongside Mohammad Rizwan as the only other Category A player. Shaheen Afridi, however, drops to Category B.

Fakhar Zaman, previously contracted for eight years, is left out amid concerns about his fitness and recent tensions with the PCB. Following a critical tweet about Babar Azam’s exclusion, Fakhar received a show-cause notice, and the issue has since moved to his legal team. Fakhar was also notably outspoken at a recent "connection camp" organized by chairman Mohsin Naqvi for players to voice their concerns.

In another surprise, Imam-ul-Haq misses out on a central contract, while overall, players have seen a reduction in higher categories. This year, only five players occupy A and B categories, down from 11 last year. Following their performances against England, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali return to the contract list in Category C, though Noman's inclusion is subject to fitness. Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Usman Khan, and Irfan Khan receive their first central contracts, placed in Category D.

The PCB maintains its three-year contract framework introduced last year, including the historic pay raises and revenue-sharing agreement from ICC earnings. This year’s contracts, backdated to July 1, 2024, will run for 12 months, with revisions expected afterward.

Category division:

Category A (2): Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan

Category B (3): Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood

Category C (9): Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan

Category D (11): Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Usman Khan