The PCB has approved new central contracts that will enhance the monthly retainers of Pakistan’s women’s cricket players by 50%. The women’s selection committee and head coach Muhammad Wasim worked together to finalise the contracts, which will go into effect retroactively from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The rise will be applicable to all categories.
Sadia Iqbal, who is presently rated first in the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings, received the most noteworthy contract upgrade. Along with Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, and Sidra Amin, she was named in Category A. Meanwhile, offspinner Rameen Shamim and fast bowler Diana Baig were promoted from D to C and from C to B, respectively. In Category C, Shamim is the sole participant.
Aliya Riaz returns under Category B after missing out on a central contract the previous season. Nida Dar took an indefinite hiatus from cricket in April and is not included in the contracts list this time around. He also did not receive a central contract the last time around due to a decline in his form and a breakdown in his relationships with the present PCB setup.
The PCB claims that the fifth category, Category E, which is known as the Emerging category, was added to this year’s contracts in order to foster up-and-coming talent. The two players named in this new division are Shawaal Zulfiqar, who has played in three ODIs and seven T20Is, and Eyman Fatima, an uncapped hitter. Both are playing in the current Twenty20 International series in Ireland and were in Pakistan’s selection for the first-ever ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup in 2023.
In Category D, ten players have been named, including new additions Waheeda Akhtar, Sidra Nawaz, and Natalia Parvaiz.
The contract announcement comes ahead of a busy year for the Pakistan women’s team, which will include bilateral series both domestically and overseas in addition to two ICC events: the T20 World Cup in June-July 2026 and the ODI World Cup in September-October 2025.
List of Central Contracts for 2025–2026
Category A: Muneeba Ali, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Fatima Sana
Class B
Nashra Sandhu, Diana Baig, and Aliya Riaz
Class C: Rameen Shamim
Category D: Tuba Hassan, Waheeda Akhtar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Nawaz, Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Parvaiz, and Umm-e-Hani
Shawaal Zulfiqar and Eyman Fatima are under Category E (Emerging).
India
