In a groundbreaking decision, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its central contracts for the 2025–26 season, igniting significant discussions within the cricket community. For the first time ever, no player from Pakistan has been granted a Category A contract, a tier typically reserved for the nation's top athletes.

Prominent figures such as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have been pivotal to Pakistan's batting strength, have been moved to Category B. The PCB has attributed this major shift to 'inconsistent performances,' indicating a new focus on performance metrics.

The contracts, which will be in effect from July 2025 to June 2026, encompass 30 players distributed across Categories B, C, and D. The revised salary structure is as follows:

Category B: PKR 3 million per month (approximately 8.7 lakh)

Category C: PKR 1.5 million per month (approximately 4.3 lakh)

Category D: PKR 0.75 million per month (approximately 2.1 lakh)

Additionally, PCB has updated match fees: PKR 1.25 million for Tests, PKR 6.44 lakh for ODIs, and PKR 4.18 lakh for T20Is.

In contrast to Pakistan's stringent measures for senior players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) continues to offer substantial rewards to its top performers. The annual contracts for India from 2024-25, effective from October 2024 to September 2025, are categorized into A+, A, B, and C.

A+ Category (Rs 7 crore annually): Includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja.

A Category (Rs 5 crore annually): Features KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant.

B Category (Rs 3 crore annually): Comprises Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer.

C Category (Rs 1 crore annually): Encompasses Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, and Sanju Samson.

This stark contrast not only underscores the financial strength of the BCCI but also reflects India's commitment to its star players while fostering new talent.

The PCB's recent decision conveys a clear message: past achievements alone will not justify top-tier salaries. While this may encourage players to enhance their performance, it could also disrupt team dynamics, leaving senior players feeling undervalued.

With significant tournaments on the horizon, including the Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup, the cricketing world will be keenly observing whether this bold strategy leads to improved consistency for Pakistan or creates unrest within the team.