Pakistan Cricket Board made an unprecedented decision, awarding zero Category A contracts for 2025-26 season, citing poor team performance across formats.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan dropped from Category A to Category B ending their five-year reign in top tier. The historic demotion reduces monthly salaries from PKR 4.5 million to PKR 3 million, affecting Pakistan’s two most consistent performers.
Thirty players secured central contracts across Categories B, C, and D with 12 new entrants, including Mohammad Abbas after five-year absence.
Shan Masood plummeted from Category B to Category D after Test captaincy struggles creating shockwaves through Pakistan cricket.
Discover in-depth Pakistan squad biographies and net worth breakdowns for each player.
| Player Name | Positions Name |
| Babar Azam | All-rounder |
| Mohammad Nawaz | All-rounder |
| Shadab Khan | All-rounder |
| Aamer Jamal | All-rounder |
| Salman Agha | All-rounder |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | All-rounder |
| Saud Shakeel | All-rounder |
| Fakhar Zaman | Batsman |
| Abdullah Shafique | Batsman |
| Shan Masood | Batsman |
| Saim Ayub | Batsman |
| Imam-ul-Haq | Batsman |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Wicket-keeper |
| Azam Khan | Wicket-keeper |
| Haseebullah Khan | Wicket-keeper |
| Haris Rauf | Bowler |
| Naseem Shah | Bowler |
| Hasan Ali | Bowler |
| Abrar Ahmed | Bowler |
| Abbas Afridi | Bowler |
| Usama Mir | Right-arm leg-spin bowler |
| Mohammad Wasim Jr | Right-arm fast-medium bowler |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | All-rounder |
| Mohammad Sami | Right-arm fast bowler |
| Waqar Younis | Right-arm fast bowler |
| Saeed Ajmal | Right-arm off-spin bowler |
| Abdul Qadir | Right-arm leg-spin bowler |
Top 10 Highest-Paid Pakistan Cricketers
Category B players earn $127,800 annually after PCB eliminated top-tier contracts entirely. PSL deals supplement PCB income creating $250,000-$450,000 total earnings for elite performers.
| Player | Role | PCB Category | Annual PCB Salary | PSL 2025 | Total Earnings |
| Shaheen Afridi | Fast bowler | B | $127,800 | $220,000 (LQ) | $450,000+ |
| Babar Azam | Batsman | B | $127,800 | $150,000 (PZ) | $380,000+ |
| Mohammad Rizwan (c) | Wicketkeeper | B | $127,800 | $200,000 (MS) | $430,000+ |
| Salman Ali Agha | All-rounder | B | $127,800 | $120,000 | $300,000+ |
| Haris Rauf | Fast bowler | B | $127,800 | $130,000 | $310,000+ |
| Shadab Khan | All-rounder | B | $127,800 | $110,000 | $280,000+ |
| Fakhar Zaman | Batsman | B | $127,800 | $100,000 | $270,000+ |
| Abrar Ahmed | Spinner | B | $127,800 | $90,000 | $250,000+ |
| Saim Ayub | Batsman | B | $127,800 | $95,000 | $260,000+ |
| Naseem Shah | Fast bowler | C | $63,900 | $140,000 | $240,000+ |
Shaheen earned $450,000+ in 2025 combining $127,800 PCB Category B contract, $220,000 Lahore Qalandars PSL captaincy deal (PKR 4.4 crore), and BBL participation. His demotion from potential Category A recognition reflects PCB’s performance-based restructuring eliminating guaranteed top-tier status.
Babar’s historic Category A to B drop reduced annual PCB income from $194,400 to $127,800. His $150,000 Peshawar Zalmi PSL contract plus endorsements with Pepsi, Oppo, Head & Shoulders generate $500,000+ yearly despite central contract demotion.
Richest Pakistan Cricketers by Net Worth
Limited IPL access restricts Pakistani wealth accumulation to PSL earnings and endorsement portfolios. Shaheen, Babar, and Rizwan lead current players through strategic brand partnerships.
| Player | Role | Estimated Net Worth | Age | Primary Wealth Source |
| Shaheen Afridi | Fast bowler | $7M (₹60Cr) | 25 | PCB + PSL + Endorsements |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Wicketkeeper | $6M (₹50Cr) | 33 | PCB + PSL + Brands |
| Babar Azam | Batsman | $5M (₹41Cr) | 30 | PCB + PSL + Sponsorships |
| Shadab Khan | All-rounder | $4M (₹33Cr) | 26 | PCB + PSL + Global T20 |
| Haris Rauf | Fast bowler | $3M (₹25Cr) | 31 | PCB + PSL + BBL |
Shaheen built $7 million through PCB contracts totaling $800,000 over seven years, PSL earnings exceeding $1.2 million since 2018, and endorsements with Pepsi, Tapal Tea, Servis Shoes worth $2 million combined.
His marriage to Shahid Afridi’s daughter created additional commercial appeal generating premium brand partnerships unavailable to unmarried cricketers.
Rizwan accumulated $6 million through PCB salary averaging $150,000 annually since 2015, PSL Multan Sultans captaincy deals totaling $1.5 million, and endorsements with Pepsi, Q Mobile, Haier generating $200,000 yearly. His 2021 T20 World Cup success as highest run-scorer elevated commercial value significantly.
Babar’s $5 million stems from PCB contracts generating $1.2 million over nine years, PSL earnings totaling $1.3 million ($130,000-$220,000 annually), and endorsement portfolio with 12+ brands creating $2 million lifetime value.
PCB Central Contract Collapse and Category System
Pakistan Cricket Board’s zero Category A allocation represents unprecedented performance punishment. Thirty players contracted across three remaining tiers create $122,000-$263,000 total annual compensation including ICC revenue shares.
Category B (10 players – $127,800 annual): Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Saim Ayub.
Category C (10 players – $63,900 annual): Naseem Shah, Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz.
Category D (10 players – $28,470 annual): Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Sufyan Muqim.
Match Fees: Test PKR 1.25M ($4,358), ODI PKR 644,620 ($2,248), T20I PKR 418,000 ($1,458).
India’s BCCI Category B pays ₹3 crore ($356,000) versus Pakistan’s $127,800 maximum creating 2.8x disparity. England’s ECB £900,000 ($1.13M) exceeds Pakistan’s former Category A by 5.8x demonstrating revenue gap between Full Member boards.
PSL and Limited Franchise Earnings
Pakistan Super League provides crucial supplementary income with platinum players earning $150,000-$250,000 per season. IPL exclusion restricts global T20 earning potential to BBL, CPL, and regional leagues.
PSL 2025 Top Salaries: Shaheen Afridi (LQ – $220,000), Mohammad Rizwan (MS – $200,000), Babar Azam (PZ – $150,000), Naseem Shah (QG – $140,000), Haris Rauf (MS – $130,000).
BBL Participation: Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars), Shadab Khan (Sydney Sixers), Usman Qadir – earning $100,000-$150,000 supplementing PCB contracts.
No IPL Access: Pakistani players banned since 2009 Mumbai attacks eliminating ₹10-15 crore earning potential available to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South African players.
Combined PSL and BBL generate $200,000-$350,000 for Pakistan’s top 10 players. Shaheen’s $220,000 PSL captaincy deal represents league’s highest domestic player salary creating $450,000 total annual income.
FAQs
Why did PCB eliminate Category A contracts?
PCB awarded zero Category A contracts for 2025-26 citing poor team performance including Asia Cup elimination, World Cup failures, and inconsistent bilateral results. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s demotion from A to B reduces monthly salaries PKR 4.5M to PKR 3M punishing performance failures.
How much does PCB pay centrally contracted players?
PCB pays 30 players across three categories: Category B ($127,800 – 10 players), Category C ($63,900 – 10 players), Category D ($28,470 – 10 players). Match fees add $1,458-$4,358 per game creating total annual compensation $140,000-$280,000 including ICC revenue shares.
Which Pakistani cricketers have highest net worth?
Shaheen Afridi leads at $7 million, followed by Mohammad Rizwan ($6M) and Babar Azam ($5M). PSL earnings, PCB contracts, and domestic endorsements create wealth ceiling given IPL ban eliminating ₹10-18 crore annual franchise opportunities available to other nationalities.
What is Babar Azam’s salary after demotion?
Babar earns $127,800 PCB Category B contract (down from $194,400 Category A), $150,000 Peshawar Zalmi PSL deal, and $200,000+ endorsements totaling $480,000 annually. His historic demotion reflects PCB’s performance accountability despite remaining Pakistan’s highest Test run-scorer.
Can Pakistani cricketers play in IPL?
No. Pakistani players banned from IPL since 2009 Mumbai terrorist attacks creating career earnings deficit exceeding $5-10 million compared to equivalent-talent Indians, Australians, and South Africans accessing ₹10-18 crore annual IPL contracts plus PCB/CA/CSA salaries.
