Cricket Dec 07, 2025

Pakistan cricket: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood and Naseem Shah have central contracts downgraded

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Pakistan cricket: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood and Naseem Shah have central contracts downgraded

Pakistan have downgraded the central contracts of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Test captain Shan Masood.

Babar and Rizwan, left out of the squad for the T20 international Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates from September 9-28, have been relegated from the A band of deals to category B.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson recently said Babar, who has not played a T20I since December 2024, "had been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate."

No players have been placed in the A category in a set of contracts that run until June 30, 2026.

Masood has dropped from band B to the lowest tier in band D after Pakistan finished bottom of the 2023-25 World Test Championship.

Masood steered his nation to a 2-1 victory over England last October but they were then subsequently beaten 2-0 in South Africa before drawing 1-1 at home to West Indies.

The left-hander's record as Test skipper reads played 12, won three, lost nine.

Seam bowler Naseem Shah has dropped from category B to category C, although the upgrades from C to B include leg-spinners Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Haris Rauf.

Category B: Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Category C: Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel

Category D: Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, Sufiyan Muqeem

Tags:

cricket news id:13414470

Share this article

Related Posts

Ben Stokes: England captain delivers 'magical' moments that gain respect, says Stuart Broad

Ben Stokes: England captain delivers 'magical' moments that gain respect, says Stuart Broad

Two hundred and fifty Test wickets. England rescued from the brink of defeat. And another chapter written in the legend of Ben Stokes.Day two of the s...

Ireland secure shock win for first-ever Women's T20 World Cup victory but West Indies still progress to semi-finals

Ireland secure shock win for first-ever Women's T20 World Cup victory but West Indies still progress to semi-finals

Ireland secured their first win at a Women's T20 World Cup as they beat semi-final hopefuls West Indies by six wickets with 11 balls to spare in Brist...

England vs New Zealand: Stuart Broad believes Black Caps can put series to bed with strong day four performance in series-deciding Test

England vs New Zealand: Stuart Broad believes Black Caps can put series to bed with strong day four performance in series-deciding Test

Stuart Broad believes New Zealand can "put the game to bed" against England on day four of the series-deciding third Test after they opened up a comma...

ICC Women's T20 World Cup: Danni Wyatt-Hodge helps England remain unbeaten as they end New Zealand's reign

ICC Women's T20 World Cup: Danni Wyatt-Hodge helps England remain unbeaten as they end New Zealand's reign

Danni Wyatt-Hodge put on a batting masterclass to help England remain unbeaten and send defending champions New Zealand home with a brilliant win at T...

Ben Stokes: England Test captain undergoes successful surgery on eye injury suffered after being struck by a cricket ball

Ben Stokes: England Test captain undergoes successful surgery on eye injury suffered after being struck by a cricket ball

England Test captain Ben Stokes has undergone successful surgery on an eye injury he suffered after being struck by a cricket ball earlier this month....

The Ashes: Jacob Bethell hailed as 'future of England cricket' after delivering on supreme talent with first Test century

The Ashes: Jacob Bethell hailed as 'future of England cricket' after delivering on supreme talent with first Test century

Jacob Bethell evoked memories of David Gower with his stylish, yet composed, maiden Test century at No 3 for England in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney...