Lahore: The PCB has unveiled central contracts for the Pakistan men’s team, selecting a 25-player squad that includes five emerging talents, showcasing a commitment to nurturing future stars.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently updated its central contract list, awarding contracts to 25 players. Notably, senior players Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, and Iftikhar Ahmed did not make the cut this time around. However, former captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan have retained their prestigious “A” category contracts.
In an encouraging move, the PCB has, for the first time, included five emerging players in central contracts, reflecting a fresh commitment to nurturing new talent.
Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have been awarded B-category contracts. Shan Masood also holds a B-category contract, contingent on his remaining as captain. Meanwhile, the C-category players include Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmad, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Haris Rauf, and Saim Ayub. Noman Ali’s contract remains subject to his fitness status.
The D-category includes young prospects and seasoned campaigners like Aamer Jamal, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Hurraira, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammed Ali, Usman Khan, Irfan Niazi, Haseebullah Khan, Abbas Afridi, and Kamran Ghulam.
Among the standout performers, spin duo Sajid Khan and Noman Ali played a crucial role in Pakistan’s recent historic Test series win over England. After a tough start in the series, Pakistan rebounded, largely thanks to the efforts of Sajid and Noman, who collectively took 39 out of 40 wickets in the last two matches. Their expertise and crucial contributions with the bat helped Pakistan secure a nine-wicket victory in the final Test in Rawalpindi, marking Pakistan’s first home series win in over three years.
