According to the Bol News Sports media confirmed sources, Mohammad Rizwan has refused to sign the Pakistan Cricket Board central contract for 2025–26, and asked the board in this regard, following a demotion from Category A down to Category B.
The Pakistan Cricket Board introduced central deals for 30 players from July 1st, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and distributed them among Categories B, C, and D while leaving the top Category A vacant – an unusual feature this time round.
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were in Category A players last season but are now grouped in Category B under the new structure, something which is said to have left senior players bemused.
As per reports, Mohammad Rizwan has retained his signature on hold and is waiting for an explanation from the board about the change of status. There are already several other contracted players who have signed their contracts.
The contract overhaul comes in the wake of fast-moving developments in Pakistan’s white ball team, including a captaincy change that placed Shaheen Shah Afridi at the helm of ODI cricket recently. The overhauling of the central contract and change in captaincy formula being adopted at a time when COVID-19 has also economically impacted other cricket boards around the world lends credence to the debate about PCB not knowing how to develop its selection and reward policies.
What happens next will hinge on the board’s answer to Rizwan’s question. If the Pakistan Cricket Board gives a plausible explanation the player can be signed soon, but if not, the matter could even lead to a public dispute between a senior international and the board.” However, for now, Rizwan is the only big name said to have not signed the new list.
