The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced central contracts for 20 women cricketers for the 2025–26 season, introducing a major 50 percent increase in player retainers across all five categories. 

 

According to reports, the PCB has also introduced a new category labelled the ‘Emerging Category’ featuring young cricketers Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar to encourage emerging talent. Both players are currently part of the squad touring Ireland for a three-match T20I series from August 6 to 10. They also represented Pakistan in the inaugural ICC Women’s U19 World Cup held in South Africa last year.

 

Sadia Iqbal, who currently tops the ICC T20I bowling rankings, has been awarded a Category A contract alongside Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin.

 

Category B includes Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig and Nashra Sundhu, with Diana promoted from Category C. Rameen Shamim has also earned a promotion from Category D to Category C.

 

Ten players have been placed in Category D, namely Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar. Among them, Natalia Parvaiz, Sidra Nawaz and Waheeda Akhtar are new additions to the contract list.

 

The PCB confirmed that the central contracts were finalised by the women’s selection committee in consultation with head coach Muhammad Wasim, and are effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

 

Over the next 12 months, the Pakistan women’s team is scheduled to compete in two major ICC events: the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in September–October 2025 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June 2026.

 

The team will also play bilateral series both at home and overseas during this period.