The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) announcement of the central contracts for the 2024/25 season has brought some big shake-ups and plenty of talking points for fans. Five emerging players earned contracts for the first time, signaling a fresh commitment to upcoming talent. But as with any list, there are some clear winners—and some surprising snubs.
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The Top Tier: Shaheen Demoted
Leading the pack, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are safely locked into Category A contracts. It’s no surprise, as both continue to be pillars for Pakistan cricket across all formats.
But the big eye-opener here? Shaheen Shah Afridi’s drop from Category A to B. Just a year ago, Shaheen was Pakistan’s marquee pacer, but after a year of injuries and management’s cautious approach with him, his demotion has fans raising eyebrows.
The Promotions and New Faces
Meanwhile, Shan Masood has climbed all the way up from Category D to B—although there’s a bit of a twist. His promotion has a ‘subject to captaincy’ clause attached, meaning his contract could shift depending on his leadership role. As it stands, though, it’s a major win for Shan, who has been steadily improving his game and adding versatility to his portfolio.
Several other players have risen in the ranks, too, with Abrar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Saud Shakeel moving up to Category C.
But perhaps the most exciting addition is the debut of five emerging players: Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan. Their inclusion in Category D hints at a shift toward nurturing fresh talent, and these contracts could serve as a launching pad for these young guns.
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Notable Omissions and Downgrades
Where there are winners, there are inevitably some losers. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, two of top ODI openers of Pakistan, have been left out of the central contracts entirely. Their absence is a surprising blow, given their experience and importance to Pakistan’s ODI lineup.
Fakhar, in particular, has been crucial in providing aggressive starts, while Imam’s consistency at the top has often anchored Pakistan’s innings. Their absence has left fans wondering if this signals a shift in Pakistan’s ODI strategy.
Haris Rauf, who had been in Category B last year, now finds himself in Category C after his below-par performances in ICC ODI and T20 World Cups. This downgrade is a reminder that while he’s undoubtedly talented, competition among Pakistan’s bowlers remains fierce.
The snubs don’t end there. Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Haris, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan were all previously in Category D but failed to make the cut this time.
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