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PCB Announces Women’s Central Contracts; Sadia Iqbal Earns Category ‘A’ For 2025-26

Rajgeeta Yadav

Pakistan Women [Source: AFP]Pakistan Women [Source: AFP]

On August 6, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the central contracts for the women’s cricket team for the 2025-26 season. These contracts include four top players in Category A. 

World No. 1 T20I Bowler Gets Category ‘A’

Among them is Sadia Iqbal, who is currently the world’s number one bowler in T20 Internationals. She joins captain Fatima Sana, wicket-keeper batter Muneeba Ali, and opening batter Sidra Amin in the top category.

In total, 20 players have been awarded central contracts across five different categories. Category D has the most players, with 10 cricketers placed in it.

Moreover, the new contracts will be valid from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. During this period, the players will receive a 50% increase in their monthly salaries across all categories. These contracts were finalized by the women’s selection committee, along with head coach Muhammad Wasim.

In addition, some new players have been included in the contracts list. These are Aliya Riaz (Category B), Natalia Parvaiz, Sidra Nawaz, and Waheeda Akhtar (all in Category D), and Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar (both in Category E).

Meanwhile, there have also been some promotions. Apart from Sadia Iqbal moving up to Category A, Diana Baig has been upgraded from Category C to B, and Rameen Shamim from Category D to C.

Furthermore, to support and encourage young talent, the PCB has introduced a new ‘Category E’, also known as the Emerging category. Two young players, Eyman Fatima, who has not yet played for the national team, and Shawaal Zulfiqar, who has played in three ODIs and seven T20Is, are included in this new group.

Notably, both Eyman and Shawaal are currently part of the Pakistan squad touring Ireland for a three-match T20I series from August 6 to 10 in Dublin. Also, both girls had earlier played in the first-ever ICC Women’s U19 World Cup held in South Africa in January 2023.

Contract Categories:

Category A: Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin

Category B: Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sundhu

Category C: Rameen Shamim

Category D: Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

Category E: Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar

Looking ahead, the Pakistan women’s team will take part in two major ICC events over the next year, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in September-October 2025 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June 2026. Besides these tournaments, the team will also play several home and away series.