The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has begun preliminary discussions regarding central contracts for the 2025–26 season. As the current three-year financial model—introduced under former chairman Zaka Ashraf in 2023—enters its final year, sources indicate that Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, and Faheem Ashraf are among the players likely to secure the contracts.
While no major overhauls are expected, the PCB is considering minor adjustments within contract categories based on player performances during the ongoing 2024–25 season. Players delivering consistent and standout performances may be rewarded with inclusion or elevation in the upcoming central contracts.
Among those under consideration for a return to the central contracts are Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, and Faheem Ashraf, all of whom were left out of last year’s list. The PCB is also expected to accommodate top domestic performers in Category D, particularly under the Emerging Players bracket.
The current contracts are set to expire on June 30. Despite this, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to maintain the existing structure, ensuring continuity for another year.
Last year, the PCB announced the centrally contracted players on October 27, dividing them into four categories. Category A included Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, while Category B featured Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Shan Masood. Category C comprised nine players, and Category D included eleven, with a focus on emerging talent. Notably, five players received central contracts for the first time last year as part of the PCB’s strategy to nurture new talent.
Prominent names such as Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan were among the notable omissions from the previous contract list.
