By Digital Spartans 
Contract categories expanded from three to four; will run from August 2025 to July 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the new men’s domestic cricket contracts for the 2025–26 season, awarding retainers to a total of 157 players — a significant expansion from the previous year’s 131.
The revamped contract system now includes four categories instead of three, offering broader recognition and financial support to domestic performers. The contracts will remain effective from August 2025 to July 2026.
According to PCB’s announcement, the four-tier category breakdown includes 30 players in DC1, 55 in DC2, 51 in DC3, and 21 in DC4.
Performance-based selection for retainers
PCB said the monthly retainers were awarded after a meticulous evaluation of player performances across all domestic tournaments held in the 2024–25 season.
The process focused on consistent performances in both red-ball and white-ball formats, including the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Hanif Mohammad Trophy, Pakistan Cup, and the National T20 Cup.
The 2025–26 domestic season officially began with the 12-team Hanif Mohammad Trophy on 29 August and will feature a packed schedule — including two first-class tournaments, three non-first-class red-ball competitions, one List A event, and a two-phase National T20 Cup, in addition to the 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Domestic Category 1 (DC1) – 30 players
Abid Ali, Aamir Jamal, Akif Javed, Azan Awais, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Jahandad Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Bhatti, Khalid Usman, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Ismail, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Muhammad Shahzad, Mushtaq Ahmed, Niaz Khan, Nisar Ahmed, Omair Bin Yousuf, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Amin, Umar Siddiq, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq, Waqar Hussain, Zahid Mehmood.
Domestic Category 2 (DC2) – 55 players
Abdul Faseeh, Abdul Samad, Ahmed Bashir, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Ali Raza, Ali Zaryab, Arafat Minhas, Arif Yaqoob, Arshadullah, Asif Afridi, Ayaz Tasawwar, Danish Aziz, Haider Ali, Hassan Raza, Imran Butt, Jalat Khan, Kashif Ali, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mehran Sanwal, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohsin Riaz, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Arif, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Suleman, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Muhammad Imran, Musa Khan, Qasim Akram, Rameez Aziz, Rohail Nazir, Saad Baig, Saad Khan, Saad Masood, Saifullah Bangash, Sameen Gul, Shahid Aziz, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shamyl Hussain, Sharoon Siraj, Sirajuddin, Ubaid Shah, Usama Mir, Waqar Ahmed, Waseem Akram Jnr, Yasir Khan, Zaman Khan.
Domestic Category 3 (DC3) – 51 players
Aamer Yamin, Abbas Ali, Abdullah Fazal, Abdur Rehman, Abdul Rehman Muzammil, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Afaq Afridi, Afaq Ahmed, Adil Amin, Aftab Khan, Ali Hamza Wasim, Ali Husnain, Ali Usman, Amad Butt, Arsal Sheikh, Asad Raza, Asif Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Fawad Alam, Hasnain Nadeem, Imran Dogar, Israr Hussain, Jahanzaib Sultan, Jawad Ali, Kamran Afzal, Mohsin Khan, Mohammad Adil, Mohammad Amir Barki, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Azab, Mohammad Hamza, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Umar, Mohammad Zeeshan, Muhammad Akhlaq, Naqeebullah, Nabi Gul, Naseerullah Khan, Obaid Shahid, Raja Hamza Waheed, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Nasim, Salman Irshad, Saqib Khan, Shahab Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Shehzad Gul, Taimur Khan, Tahir Hussain.
Domestic Category 4 (DC4) – 21 players
Aashar Mehmood, Abu Huraira, Aqib Khan, Aqib Liaqat, Aqib Shah, Ali Shan, Bismillah Khan, Faizan Saleem, Gulfam Aziz, Imran Rafiq, Mansoor Ali, Mohammad Ali Taj, Mohammad Ammar, Mohammad Faizan Jnr, Mohammad Irfan, Muhammad Hammad Khan, Sajjad Ali Hashmi, Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr, Taj Wali, Zain Abbas.
Strengthening Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure
PCB officials said the move to expand contract categories reflects the board’s renewed focus on rewarding performance, ensuring financial stability, and retaining top domestic talent.
This year’s contract revamp also supports PCB’s long-term domestic structure reform, aimed at bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket while building a stronger talent pipeline for the national team.