PCB announces central contracts for women players with 50% salary hike

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced new central contracts for 20 women cricketers, with a major increase of 50 percent in player retainers across all categories. The contracts will be valid from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

According to the PCB, the players have been divided into five categories based on their performance and potential.

Top-ranked T20I bowler Sadia Iqbal has been placed in Category A along with Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, and Sidra Amin. Category B includes Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, and Nashra Sandhu, while Rameen Shamim is the only player in Category C.

Ten players have been placed in Category D: Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Pervaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umme Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar.

Category E features Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar.

Among the 20 players, six are new additions to the central contract list: Aliya Riaz (Category B), Natalia Pervaiz, Sidra Nawaz, and Waheeda Akhtar (all Category D), and Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar (both Category E).

Diana Baig and Rameen Shamim have also received promotions. Diana has moved up from Category C to B, while Rameen has been promoted from Category D to C.

The list of contracted players was finalized by the women’s selection committee in consultation with head coach Mohammad Wasim.

The Pakistan women’s team is set for a busy year ahead, including appearances in two ICC events — the Women’s Cricket World Cup (September–October 2025) and the Women’s T20 World Cup (June 2026) — along with multiple bilateral series at home and abroad.