The PCB dropped former captain Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz from its new batch of central contracts announced on Saturday. The new list includes 16 players, with Fatima Sana, who succeeded Dar as captain, promoted to Category A. Dar, who was in Category A last year, and Riaz, who had been demoted to Category B, were omitted due to waning form and concerns about their attitude within the team, which PCB officials reportedly discussed.
Alongside Dar and Riaz, players like Eyman Fatima, Anoosha Nasir, Sidra Nawaz, and Shawaal Zulfiqar also missed out on contracts this season. The PCB has excluded Bismah Maroof, who retired earlier this year. However, the PCB clarified that these players remain eligible for selection as the board focuses on developing the next generation of cricketers, in line with the ICC’s Women’s FTP for 2025-29.
Fatima Sana’s promotion to Category A comes as a reward for her outstanding all-round performances leading up to and during the T20 World Cup in the UAE. The PCB promoted Muneeba Ali, the wicketkeeper-batter, to Category A, where she joins Sidra Amin, who retained her position. Ghulam Fatima, Gull Feroza, and Rameen Shamim are back on the central contracts list after several years, while Tasmia Rubab joins for the first time.
The PCB delayed the announcement of the contracts, and players will receive backdated payments. This delay is part of broader uncertainties within Pakistan women’s cricket, particularly regarding the long-awaited women’s PSL, which remains unfulfilled despite earlier promises.
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