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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Tuesay, unveiled the central contracts of their women’s team for the 2025-26 season. These contracts, which will be effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, feature a substantial 50 percent increase in player retainers across all categories, reflecting the PCB’s enhanced commitment to female cricketers.
Key promotions in the PCB-announced central contracts
The 50 percent increase in player retainers across all categories is a major financial uplift for the contracted players, providing them with greater stability and incentive to perform at the highest level. This move underscores the PCB’s dedication to professionalizing women’s cricket and ensuring that players are adequately rewarded for their contributions. Sadia Iqbal’s elevation to Category A is a testament to her consistent excellence and her standing as the world’s number one T20I bowler. She joins a strong cohort in Category A, including Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin, who have consistently performed for the national side. Category B sees the inclusion of Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, and Nashra Sundhu, while Rameen Shamim is placed in Category C.
PCB adds a new category for the 2025-26 season
In a forward-thinking initiative aimed at fostering the next generation of cricketing talent, the PCB has introduced a new ‘Emerging’ Category E. This new tier is designed to provide structured support and recognition to promising young players who are on the cusp of breaking into the national team. Uncapped batter Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar have the distinction of being the first players to be awarded contracts in this inaugural Emerging category, highlighting their potential and the PCB’s investment in their development. The comprehensive list of contracted players spans five categories, with Category D being the largest, comprising Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.
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Here’s the complete list of contracted players:
The full list of players awarded central contracts for the 2025-26 season is as follows:
- Category A: Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin
- Category B: Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sundhu
- Category C: Rameen Shamim
- Category D: Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar
- Category E (Emerging): Eyman Fatima, Shawaal Zulfiqar
This announcement comes at a crucial time for Pakistan women’s cricket, as the team prepares for a busy international schedule, including participation in the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The enhanced contracts are expected to boost player morale and contribute significantly to the team’s performance and overall growth on the global stage.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
