LAHORE: Sadia Iqbal, currently ranked at the top of ICC T20I bowling rankings, has been awarded a Category ‘A’ as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announces the Women’s Central Contracts for the 2025-26 season.
The PCB has also introduced an ‘E’ category, designated as the Emerging category, to encourage young and budding cricketers.
Eyman Fatima (uncapped) and Shawaal Zulfiqar (three ODIs, seven T20Is) are part of the newly introduced Emerging category.
Both players are members of the Ireland-bound Pakistan women’s squad, which is set to play three T20Is from 6 to 10 August in Dublin.
Also, both players were part of the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s U19 World Cup held in South Africa in January 2023.
A total of 20 players have been awarded contracts across five categories, with 10 players placed in Category D.
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The contracts, which run from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, see a substantial 50 per cent increase across all categories in player retainers.
The central contracts were finalised by the Pakistan women’s selection committee in consultation with head coach Muhammad Wasim.
Over the next 12 months, the Pakistan women’s team will participate in two ICC events, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (September-October 2025) and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (June 2026), in addition to playing bilateral series both at home and away.
Among the 20 contracted players, Aliya Riaz (Category B), Natalia Parvaiz (Category D), Sidra Nawaz (Category D), Waheeda Akhtar (Category D), Eyman Fatima, and Shawaal Zulfiqar (both Category E) are new inclusions.
In addition to Sadia Iqbal, Diana Baig (promoted from Category C to B) and Rameen Shamim (from Category D to C) have earned upgrades.
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