Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has refused to sign the new central contract offered by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after being demoted to Category B, according to a PTI report.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Rizwan is reportedly the only one among the 30 contracted players who has not signed the document. The PCB, in a major overhaul, decided to scrap the elite Category A — which had previously been reserved for senior players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Rizwan himself. The move is being viewed as a clear signal from the board that it is dissatisfied with the national team’s performance over the past year. Under the new structure, 10 players, including the senior trio, were grouped together in Category B. However, Rizwan is believed to have conveyed to the board that he would not sign the contract until his concerns were addressed. His refusal reportedly stems from a mix of dissatisfaction over his demotion and his recent removal as Pakistan’s ODI captain. Rizwan has allegedly demanded that the PCB reinstate Category A for senior players and ensure that whoever is appointed as captain is given a clear term and full authority to execute their plans without interference. The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, known for his consistency and fighting spirit, has been a key member of Pakistan’s setup across formats in recent years. Yet, he has not featured in T20Is since December 2024, and his sacking as ODI captain came as a surprise to many, with Shaheen Shah Afridi named as his replacement. The contract standoff adds to the ongoing uncertainty in Pakistan cricket, where recent leadership changes and selection decisions have sparked intense debate among players, fans, and experts alike.
