By Zainab Shafiq 
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made the decision to extend the central contracts of players for an additional month, taking into account the transition period and leaving the final decision to the new administration. With the exception of Azhar Ali, who has retired from international cricket, all other contracted players will now have their contracts extended until August 1, instead of the original expiration date of July 1.
Last year, the PCB introduced separate red and white-ball contracts, along with the addition of four players to the Emerging Category, resulting in a total of 33 players receiving contracts for one year, an increase of 13 from the previous season. Babar Azam, the captain across all formats, along with Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, were awarded both red and white-ball contracts.
Among the contracted players, nine have red-ball contracts, while eleven were given white-ball contracts. The PCB made adjustments to the categories this year, with Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan moving from Category B to Category A, and Haris Rauf being promoted to Category B. Mohammad Nawaz retained his place in Category C.
Additionally, the Emerging Category expanded from three to seven players as part of the PCB’s strategy to support and incentivize emerging domestic performers. The players in the Emerging Category include Ali Usman, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Qasim Akram, and Salman Ali Agha.
Red and White-Ball Contracts (5):
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (all Category A), Hasan Ali (red-ball Category B, white-ball Category C) and Imam-ul-Haq (red-ball Category C, white-ball Category B)
Red Ball Contracts (9):
Category B – Fawad Alam
Category C – Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah and Nauman Ali
Category D – Abid Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah
White-Ball Contracts (11):
Category A – Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan
Category B – Haris Rauf
Category C – Mohammad Nawaz
Category D – Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mehmood
Emerging Contracts (7):
Ali Usman (Southern Punjab), Haseebullah (Balochistan), Kamran Ghulam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Haris (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Huraira (Northern), Qasim Akram (Central Punjab) and Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab)