[REPORT] New PCB Central Contracts set to include Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf

[Ball Blazer]

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has initiated early discussions on central contracts for national cricketers for the 2025-26 season. This process comes as the current three-year financial structure, introduced under former chairman Zaka Ashraf in 2023, enters its final year.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the PCB is not planning any sweeping changes to the list of centrally contracted players. However, minor adjustments within player categories are possible, depending on performances in the ongoing 2024-25 season. Cricketers who deliver exceptional performances could be rewarded with inclusion or promotion in the contract list.

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.

Source: ProSports

 

[Shehmir]

Why Faheem again?

 

[amvbfm]

The worst thing to have happened this PSL is Faheem getting wickets. He will make a comeback and hog a spot in the team bowling one or two expensive overs and doing nothing with the bat.

 

[emranabbas]

Everyone in this tournament has had a fair opportunity you can't really blame Hassan and faheem if superstars failed just like how they do in international.

 

[pakistani pride]

Keep using PSL as the benchmark and you will keep getting exposed.

Time has come for these lazy individuals to earn their money.

Should be based on series by series perfomances as a TEAM.

 

[Rana]

Why Babar and Rizwan still being retained in category A??

 

[amvbfm]

Everyone in this tournament has had a fair opportunity you can't really blame Hassan and faheem if superstars failed just like how they do in international.

It is not about what others have done. It is about what Faheem has done and what he brings to the team.

Firstly, despite the numbers, he hasn't done much to merit a recall. The issue is he gets preferential treatment as he is incorrectly labelled as an allrounder when he rarely does much with the bat. I would not have a problem if he is considered as a genuine bowler and competes with the likes of Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi for a spot in the team as those guys are equally proficient with the bat and more importantly have performed on the international stage.

Now lets look at what he has done in his various comebacks over the last three years:

In 3 tests he has picked 1 wicket @173 and scored 51 runs @8.5
In 6 ODIs he has picked 5 wickets @47 and scored 104 runs @20.8
In 6 T20s he has picked 1 wicket @78 and scored 52 runs @ 17.3

If those numbers are good enough for someone to get a central contract and fans to believe there are no reasons other than performance at play then good luck to Pakistan in competing at the international level.

Those who follow the game and have seen him play do not even need to look at those numbers to conclude that the guy does not belong at the international level. He is a decent domestic player and a value pick for T20 club teams but nothing more.

 

[Rana]

If you have drawn a line under Babar and Rizwan as T20 regulars, then they should not be Category A

This needs clarification

 

[emranabbas]

It is not about what others have done. It is about what Faheem has done and what he brings to the team.

Firstly, despite the numbers, he hasn't done much to merit a recall. The issue is he gets preferential treatment as he is incorrectly labelled as an allrounder when he rarely does much with the bat. I would not have a problem if he is considered as a genuine bowler and competes with the likes of Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi for a spot in the team as those guys are equally proficient with the bat and more importantly have performed on the international stage.

Now lets look at what he has done in his various comebacks over the last three years:

In 3 tests he has picked 1 wicket @173 and scored 51 runs @8.5
In 6 ODIs he has picked 5 wickets @47 and scored 104 runs @20.8
In 6 T20s he has picked 1 wicket @78 and scored 52 runs @ 17.3

If those numbers are good enough for someone to get a central contract and fans to believe there are no reasons other than performance at play then good luck to Pakistan in competing at the international level.

Those who follow the game and have seen him play do not even need to look at those numbers to conclude that the guy does not belong at the international level. He is a decent domestic player and a value pick for T20 club teams but nothing more.

Hasan Ali is the second-highest wicket-taker among Pakistanis in the PSL, and Faheem's fourth. We're in 2025, I honestly don't care what they did eight years ago.

You’ve got to understand that players can improve if they put in the work, and they can decline if they get lazy, just look at Babar, Shaheen, etc.


You can’t keep picking teams based on what someone did in 2019. Times change, and so should selections.


If your so-called superstars can’t even perform in domestic tournaments, why would anyone expect them to suddenly do wonders at the international level.

you can't pick a team based on so and so has fans on social media or so and so on social media has hate for certain players and shouldn't get picked team should be selected based on performance.

 

[amvbfm]

Hasan Ali is the second-highest wicket-taker among Pakistanis in the PSL, and Faheem's fourth. We're in 2025, I honestly don't care what they did eight years ago.

You’ve got to understand that players can improve if they put in the work, and they can decline if they get lazy, just look at Babar, Shaheen, etc.


You can’t keep picking teams based on what someone did in 2019. Times change, and so should selections.


If your so-called superstars can’t even perform in domestic tournaments, why would anyone expect them to suddenly do wonders at the international level.

you can't pick a team based on so and so has fans on social media or so and so on social media has hate for certain players and shouldn't get picked team should be selected based on performance.

Please read my post again. I am not advocating the selection of any 'superstar' or hating any player. I am just pointing out that this isn't the first time Faheem has picked wickets in the PSL or went on to play for the international team. Every time we hear about the 'new and improved' allrounder and every time the result is the same. I totally agree that selection should be performance based which is why a player who rarely contributes with the bat should never be selected as an allrounder. I know that past performance is not an indicator of what a player will do in the future but expecting a moderately talented 32 year old who has done little of note in over 100 international appearances to suddenly become a world-beater is wishful thinking. Also a selection policy should not just be about current statistics but be based on a holistic assessment of the player accounting for qualitative factors like age, potential, fitness etc.

 

[emranabbas]

Please read my post again. I am not advocating the selection of any 'superstar' or hating any player. I am just pointing out that this isn't the first time Faheem has picked wickets in the PSL or went on to play for the international team. Every time we hear about the 'new and improved' allrounder and every time the result is the same. I totally agree that selection should be performance based which is why a player who rarely contributes with the bat should never be selected as an allrounder. I know that past performance is not an indicator of what a player will do in the future but expecting a moderately talented 32 year old who has done little of note in over 100 international appearances to suddenly become a world-beater is wishful thinking. Also a selection policy should not just be about current statistics but be based on a holistic assessment of the player accounting for qualitative factors like age, potential, fitness etc.

That's fine who are your proven pace all rounders?

 

[amvbfm]

That's fine who are your proven pace all rounders?

Let's say we don't have any, so we should pick Faheem? Just because we don't have any? Sorry but I don't understand that logic. And i will reiterate: Faheem is NOT an allrounder. Guy has a batting average of 13 in ODIs and T20s. How can you call him an allrounder? I'd rather pick Hasan or Wasim Jnr as an allrounder than him.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Everyone in this tournament has had a fair opportunity you can't really blame Hassan and faheem if superstars failed just like how they do in international.

There are no superstars, these players like Hassan and Faheem are actually the better players. That doesn't mean they are good by international standards....just Pakistani standards which are not good at the moment.

 

[Rana]

Faheem and Khushdil 100% numbers 6-7 in Pakistan’s white ball teams

Deal with it!

 

[emranabbas]

Let's say we don't have any, so we should pick Faheem? Just because we don't have any? Sorry but I don't understand that logic. And i will reiterate: Faheem is NOT an allrounder. Guy has a batting average of 13 in ODIs and T20s. How can you call him an allrounder? I'd rather pick Hasan or Wasim Jnr as an allrounder than him.

yes absolutely for the sake of team combination especially when we are playing on pace friendly grounds

tell me what good is spin all rounder at number 7 or 8 on grounds that assist pace

 

[emranabbas]

There are no superstars, these players like Hassan and Faheem are actually the better players. That doesn't mean they are good by international standards....just Pakistani standards which are not good at the moment.

so who do you want to pick? players who can't even dominate domestic tournaments ?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

so who do you want to pick? players who can't even dominate domestic tournaments ?

I am happy to pick Hassan, even Faheem if he's performing better than the "superstars". That was my point, I don't think there are any superstars so just better to go with the ones who are performing.

 

[emranabbas]

I am happy to pick Hassan, even Faheem if he's performing better than the "superstars". That was my point, I don't think there are any superstars so just better to go with the ones who are performing.

Exactly we have been clinging on the past too much expecting players to repeat their perfomances from 2019 but it's just not happening best to select players who are performing in domestic currently.

 

[amvbfm]

yes absolutely for the sake of team combination especially when we are playing on pace friendly grounds

tell me what good is spin all rounder at number 7 or 8 on grounds that assist pace

What use is an allrounder who bowls no more than 1 or 2 overs and has rarely won a match with the bat?
Anyway no use arguing. Let's discuss this 6 months from now when we have more numbers to support our respective arguments.

 

[emranabbas]

What use is an allrounder who bowls no more than 1 or 2 overs and has rarely won a match with the bat?
Anyway no use arguing. Let's discuss this 6 months from now when we have more numbers to support our respective arguments.

Brother give us a better pace all rounder and let's end the discussion.

He is OK right now untill we find someone better and it's more likely he will be on bench

Aamer jamal has been a let down

If any other pace all rounder can out perfom him in domestic then he deserves a chance ahead of faheem

 

[amvbfm]

Brother give us a better pace all rounder and let's end the discussion.

He is OK right now untill we find someone better and it's more likely he will be on bench

Aamer jamal has been a let down

If any other pace all rounder can out perfom him in domestic then he deserves a chance ahead of faheem

Not claiming there is any proven good pace allrounder in the system at the moment. My issue is with calling Faheem an allrounder because his batting is just not up to the mark and whenever he plays most captains don’t bowl him for more than 2 overs. That is just not good enough for a number 7, at least imo. I would rather take Nawaz over him regardless of conditions. As for domestic performances, Faheem has not really been a standout, Jahandad, Amad Butt and Aamir Yamin have all been close to him (and I am not counting just PSL performances here because we are considering a central contract). Anyways as I said let’s discuss this a few months later

 

[zarak]

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has initiated early discussions on central contracts for national cricketers for the 2025-26 season. This process comes as the current three-year financial structure, introduced under former chairman Zaka Ashraf in 2023, enters its final year.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the PCB is not planning any sweeping changes to the list of centrally contracted players. However, minor adjustments within player categories are possible, depending on performances in the ongoing 2024-25 season. Cricketers who deliver exceptional performances could be rewarded with inclusion or promotion in the contract list.

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.

Source: ProSports

Hoping Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen get demoted to reflect merit. No one belongs in the top category. Naseem is the only all format player we have and he does not stand out in either although he is decent.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Exactly we have been clinging on the past too much expecting players to repeat their perfomances from 2019 but it's just not happening best to select players who are performing in domestic currently.

Fahim didn't even perform in 2019 in white ball cricket. Hasan has atleast got his pace and zip back. Whether he can be as good as he was in 2017-18 remains to be seen (unlikely though)
In 8 years, he doesn't have a single performance in LOIs with the bat. With bits and pieces players, you're going to get one off performance in either discipline after 10 matches or so and being an already mediocre side, we can't afford it.

 

[emranabbas]

Fahim didn't even perform in 2019 in white ball cricket. Hasan has atleast got his pace and zip back. Whether he can be as good as he was in 2017-18 remains to be seen (unlikely though)
In 8 years, he doesn't have a single performance in LOIs with the bat. With bits and pieces players, you're going to get one off performance in either discipline after 10 matches or so and being an already mediocre side, we can't afford it.

I think you completely missed the point of my post, and honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Just to clarify cricket is a game where players can decline in form, and others can rise. That’s the nature of the sport. Selections should be based on current form and recent performances, not just on reputation or past achievements.

Faheem may not have the same reputation or track record as some others, but right now, he's outperforming those who do. so what’s the issue with backing him?

Player A has only managed 5 wickets in 7 PSL games so what makes you think he’ll suddenly deliver at the international level where he has been failing recently too?

Meanwhile, Player B has taken 14 wickets in 10 matches.

So, who would you pick for international?


Player A based on past performance or
Player B based on current form

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I think you completely missed the point of my post, and honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Just to clarify cricket is a game where players can decline in form, and others can rise. That’s the nature of the sport. Selections should be based on current form and recent performances, not just on reputation or past achievements.

Faheem may not have the same reputation or track record as some others, but right now, he's outperforming those who do. so what’s the issue with backing him?

Player A has only managed 5 wickets in 7 PSL games so what makes you think he’ll suddenly deliver at the international level where he has been failing recently too?

Meanwhile, Player B has taken 14 wickets in 10 matches.

So, who would you pick for international?


Player A based on past performance or
Player B based on current form

Fahim has always played like this in domestic. He hasn't added anything to his game. If someone has failed in cricket for 8 years, he'll probably fail in the next 8 as well. I have no problem in keeping Fahim in the probables for tests but it's pretty clear by now he won't ever achieve anything of note as an allrounder in LOIs. It's the failure of our system that we have not been able to produce a single seam bowling allrounder that can ply his trade in internationals since Abdul Razzaq. Rather than awarding these pseudo allrounders with a contract, it would be better to help them arrange a contract in county cricket for a season and let the their coaches work with them. Yasir Arafat and Azhar were quite successful there.

 

[emranabbas]

Fahim has always played like this in domestic. He hasn't added anything to his game. If someone has failed in cricket for 8 years, he'll probably fail in the next 8 as well. I have no problem in keeping Fahim in the probables for tests but it's pretty clear by now he won't ever achieve anything of note as an allrounder in LOIs. It's the failure of our system that we have not been able to produce a single seam bowling allrounder that can ply his trade in internationals since Abdul Razzaq. Rather than awarding these pseudo allrounders with a contract, it would be better to help them arrange a contract in county cricket for a season and let the their coaches work with them. Yasir Arafat and Azhar were quite successful there.

Brother, there's no point in arguing. It seems you've already made up your mind whether it's driven by hate or bias, it's certainly not based on cricketing logic. So there's no need to continue this any further.

 

[Rana]

From a journalist:

“𝐏𝐂𝐁 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐠𝐡𝐚 has been placed in the same contract category (A) as Babar Azam & Rizwan

Shan Masood & Naseem Shah demoted from Category B to C

𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐀𝐲𝐮𝐛 has been included in Category (B) of the central contracts, alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi”

This basically means Babar and Rizwan will be a feature of the T20i side. Why else would they end up in Cat A if they are not going to play one of the 3 formats?

On top of it, I don’t understand why the players are not fighting for themselves here? Shan Masood demoted a category even though he’s been a better Test player than Babar Azam, but Babar retains his spot in Cat A??

 

[mominsaigol]

From a journalist:

“𝐏𝐂𝐁 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐠𝐡𝐚 has been placed in the same contract category (A) as Babar Azam & Rizwan

Shan Masood & Naseem Shah demoted from Category B to C

𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐀𝐲𝐮𝐛 has been included in Category (B) of the central contracts, alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi”

This basically means Babar and Rizwan will be a feature of the T20i side. Why else would they end up in Cat A if they are not going to play one of the 3 formats?

On top of it, I don’t understand why the players are not fighting for themselves here? Shan Masood demoted a category even though he’s been a better Test player than Babar Azam, but Babar retains his spot in Cat A??

Shan and Naseem being moved to cat C is fine.

Naseem is bang avg and Shan is not only mediocre but he's reaching the end of his journey. He'll be removed as captain and agha will be made one soon so theirs no point in continuing with him.

The real tragedy is Ba/Riz being retained in cat A when they should have been demoted to category C as well.