Star Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan has reportedly declined the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contract offer for the 2025-26 season. Sources indicate that Rizwan has refused to sign the agreement due to specific conditions he put forth, which the PCB has subsequently rejected. This contract dispute arises just before Pakistan’s ODI series against South Africa, scheduled to commence on November 3rd. Despite this ongoing disagreement, Rizwan has been included in the 16-member squad for the upcoming series. This development follows a recent restructuring by the PCB, where both Rizwan and former captain Babar Azam were demoted from Category A to Category B in the new central contracts. The board has opted not to offer any Category A deals this year, affecting the hierarchy of top players. Rizwan’s recent past has seen him replaced as ODI captain by Shaheen Shah Afridi, even after leading the team to series wins. His subsequent absence from the T20I setup has fueled discussions about his future standing within the national team. Negotiations are ongoing between Rizwan and the PCB, with potential ramifications for player-board relations as Pakistan faces a packed international calendar.
