Tag: Babar Azam

LAHORE: Star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were demoted as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced central contracts for the 2025-26 international season on Monday.

A total of 30 male cricketers have been awarded central contracts that will be effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

Notably, unlike previous years, no player has been selected for Category A in this cycle. Instead, this year’s roster sees ten players each placed in Categories B, C, and D.

Compared to last year’s list of 27 contracted players, the PCB has expanded the pool to 30, including 12 fresh additions, highlighting the emergence of promising new talent and the Board’s strategic focus on squad depth and future development.

The new entrants in the central contract list are Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.

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According to the PCB, five players have earned promotion in the central contracts for the upcoming season owing to their performances last year.

They are Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan, all of whom have been promoted from the C to the B category.

Additionally, nine players, including Shaheen Shah Afridi in Category B, have retained their positions in the same categories.

Abdullah Shafique, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Saud Shakeel were retained in Category C, while Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr were retained in Category D.

Eight players have missed out on contracts this year. They are Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan, all of whom were in Category (D).

Central Contracts for the 2025-26 season

List of this year’s centrally contacted players:

Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Category C (10 players): Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, and Saud Shakeel.

Category D (10 players): Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, and Sufyan Moqim.

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Former pacer Tanvir Ahmed has advised the senior duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to consider retirement from International cricket amid selection snub for the Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 17-member squad that excluded Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s last T20I appearance came in December 2024 against South Africa.

Tanvir Ahmed criticized the decision, urging the duo to call time on their careers.

“My request to Babar Azam and Rizwan is that if you feel your respect is not intact, then consider retiring from international cricket. We have examples of Virat Kohli in front of us. Babar and Rizwan, respect is in your hands,” he said.

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The pacer questioned Fakhar Zaman’s inclusion in the team, who suffered an injury during the West Indies tour.

“Was Fakhar Zaman forced into the team, or was he included to prevent Babar Azam from being selected? How did Fakhar Zaman get in?” he questioned.

For the unversed, Salman Ali Agha will lead the side with experienced players such as Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf included in the squad.

Additionally, young talents Saim Ayub, Khushdil Shah, and Hussain Talat are also part of the squad.

The team will be in action in the tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE, which is scheduled to run from August 29 to September 7.

The series will be held entirely at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and will see each team face the others twice, culminating in the final on September 7.

The series will serve as a crucial tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025, also to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 in the T20 format.

READ: ‘Best team selected’: Abdul Razzaq praises Pakistan Tri-Series, Asia Cup squad

Former wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal has questioned the absence of the experienced duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the Pakistan T20I squad.

Speaking during a private event, Kamran shared his thoughts on the team selection for the Asia Cup 2025 and Tri-Series against Afghanistan and the UAE.

He also questioned the absence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I team.

“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should have been part of the team,” he remarked.

The former wicket-keeper also reiterated his earlier statement about trying new players.

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“They have performed in the past, and I had said these players — Babar, Shaheen [Afridi], Shadab [Khan], and Haris [Rauf] — should be removed from the T20I team and new players should be given a chance,” he said.

The 43-year-old highlighted the significance of marquee events and the need for senior players in bigger tournaments, while stressing the importance of these events.

“These players will be automatically chosen for major ICC and ACC tournaments,” he added.

“The team was not formed considering the difficult conditions and the pressure situation. I think a better team could have been formed, and this has been ongoing for several years,” Kamran Akmal concluded.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 17-member squad, excluding Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s last T20I appearance came in December 2024 against South Africa. Since then, neither player has been in the team’s plan for the shorter format amid criticism of their strike rates.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the side with experienced players such as Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf included in the squad.

Additionally, young talents Saim Ayub, Khushdil Shah, and Hussain Talat are also part of the squad.

For the unversed,  the tri-series, scheduled to run from August 29 to September 7, will be held entirely at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and will see each team face the others twice, culminating in the final on September 7.

The series will serve as a crucial tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025, also to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 in the T20 format.

Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

READ: Aqib Javed backs Pakistan to beat India in Asia Cup 2025

LAHORE: Pakistan team selector and former pacer Aqib Javed has shared his thoughts on the exclusion of the experienced duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the national T20I squad.

Addressing the questions regarding squad selection for the forthcoming Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025, Aqib, alongside Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, highlighted key aspects of the 17-member squad.

The ace duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have not been selected in the Pakistan squad. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s last T20I appearance came in December 2024 against South Africa.

Aqib Javed stated that there is no full stop for any player, and there are ample opportunities for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to perform and secure their place in the team.

“In T20 cricket, two factors are crucial: your ability to score runs and your strike rate, according to the match situation and environment. That is what we always consider,” he told reporters.

The selector highlighted Pakistan’s T20I format top order, emphasizing recent performances amid the exclusion of Babar Azam.

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“It’s not that we are completely sidelining them. The current choices reflect how a player develops. I’ve given examples of Sahibzada Farhan, Saim, and Fakhar. Sahibzada made a comeback, Saim initially struggled but later created an impact,” he stated.

“We can’t say that we are writing them off, and at this time, we have players who have performed well.

So, no one can put a full stop on any player; there are opportunities, they are getting contracts in the Big Bash, there is the PSL, the player who performs will play, and he should play,” he added.

Aqib Javed mentioned the performances of the Pakistan Shaheens players and the opportunities available for emerging players.

“Our top players have just completed a camp at the NCA,” the 53-year-old said.

He further emphasized the team’s strengths while explaining the selection dynamics.

“Mohammad Wasim Jr. was sent there [Pakistan Shaheens] and he is getting fitter and bowling well, so he has been included in the squad,” he said. “You have limited slots— if you have players like Saim [Ayub], Fakhar [Zaman], and Sahibzada [Farhan], you can only select 17.”

“Wherever there is opportunity, it will be utilised. The good thing is that our options are improving. Players like Yasir[Khan] [Mohammad] Naeem, and [Khawaja] Nafay give us better choices, and it is a good sign,” Aqib Javed concluded.

READ: Pakistan name squad for Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has raised doubts over the status of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as “key players” for the national side, suggesting that others in the current setup are more deserving of the title.

Babar and Rizwan endured a poor run in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against the West Indies, while both remain out of Pakistan’s T20I plans since December 2024.

Babar managed scores of 47, 0, and 9 across the three games, while Rizwan posted 53, 16, and 0.

Speaking on a local YouTube channel, Mohammad Hafeez argued that being labelled a key player requires winning matches for the team, something he feels Babar and Rizwan have failed to deliver in recent years.

“Calling them key players would be wrong and unfair. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not Pakistan cricket’s key players at the moment. Key players are those who win matches for Pakistan,” said Hafeez.

“If we look at the past year and a half to two years, the players showing consistent performance are Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, and Hasan Nawaz.”

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The former all-rounder went on to question whether Babar and Rizwan even justify their spots in the XI at present.

“I think Babar and Rizwan need to be concerned about their positions in the team,” said Mohammad Hafeez.

“They need to prove themselves as good players first; key players come later. Both were good in the past, but now they are not delivering results.”

Hafeez extended his criticism to Pakistan’s leading pacers as well, insisting Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi have also fallen short of delivering match-winning contributions.

He concluded by stressing that Pakistan cricket should focus less on reputation and more on building a core of consistent performers for the next decade.

“We should focus on players who can contribute for the next 10–15 years. Our media hypes and criticises the wrong people; we need to talk about those who are actually performing,” he added.

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Pakistan star batter Babar Azam, along with several current and former cricket greats, shared heartfelt messages on Thursday to mark the nation’s 78th Independence Day.

Former skipper Shahid Afridi addressed the youth in his message, saying: “O youth of my nation, this homeland is yours. This garden, fragrant with the scent of sacrifices, holds your dreams — waiting for your actions.”

Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani also joined the celebrations, posting a picture on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: “Raise your country’s flag high.”

Babar Azam, in his Independence Day message, emphasised unity, faith, and discipline as Pakistan’s core strengths.

“Unity, faith, and discipline — these are not just words, they are our strength. August 14 reminds us that Pakistan came into being when all hearts beat together, when faith never wavered, and when discipline turned dreams into reality,” he wrote.

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“If we stand united today, no challenge can break us tomorrow. Pakistan belongs to all of us, and we all belong to Pakistan. Happy Independence Day,” Babar Azam added.

Former pacer Waqar Younis shared a scenic Independence Day photo with a congratulatory note, while ex-wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal simply stated: “Pakistan Zindabad forever.”

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan recently concluded their white-ball tour of the West Indies, featuring a three-match T20I and ODI series.

The visitors claimed the T20I series 2-1 under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha, while the hosts dominated the ODIs.

Pakistan will now turn its focus to two major assignments: the tri-nation T20I series against Afghanistan and the UAE later this month, followed by the ACC Asia Cup 2025 from September 9 to 28.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the comparison of Babar Azam, stating that Virat Kohli cannot be compared to anyone in the world.

Speaking during a recent interview, Shehzad commented on the form of Babar Azam and drawing parallels with great cricketers.

“When everything was going well, you were running campaigns comparing players. Now that the performances are not coming, you are saying ‘don’t compare two players.’ Why not? Virat Kohli’s comparison cannot be made with anyone in the world,” Shehzad said.

Shehzad hailed Virat Kohli as a generational player, stating that the comparison added extra pressure on Babar.

“He is a legend of this generation, a role model. You cannot even compare him with MS Dhoni,” Shehzad said.

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“Dhoni may have been a great captain, but as a batter, cricketer, and athlete, Kohli stands alone. No one should be compared with anyone because it’s unfair and it adds extra pressure, which we are now seeing on Babar Azam,” he added.

Notably, Babar has experienced a significant decline in form over the last couple of years.

The right-handed batter known for his consistent scoring returned with the scores 47, 0, and 9 in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against West Indies.

As a result, Babar Azam has not managed to score a hundred in 72 consecutive innings, with his last ton coming against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup.

For the unversed, West Indies clinched the ODI series against Pakistan 2-1 for the first time since 1991. Shai Hope starred with bat whereas Jayden Seales teared through Pakistan batting line-up with a fiery six-wicket haul

READ: Rohit Sharma replaces Babar Azam in ICC ODI rankings

DUBAI: Star Indian batter Rohit Sharma has overtaken the second spot from Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam in the latest ICC rankings revealed on Wednesday.

Babar, who returned with the scores of 47, 0, and 9, suffered a decline and slipped to third with 751 rating points.

Rohit Sharma has taken the position of Babar Azam, with Shubman Gill continuing to hold the number one spot in the rankings.

Besides Babar Azam, several other Pakistani players also faced demotion in their ranking spots following a 2-1 series loss against the West Indies.

Notably, Saim Ayub suffered the most significant drop among Pakistan’s batters, falling nine places to 46th spot.

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Pakistan’s ODI captain, Mohammad Rizwan, dropped one place, hence moving to 22nd position.

Fakhar Zaman, who was not part of the 50-over series due to an injury, dropped four places to 27th position. The overlooked opener Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha also saw a decline in their rankings, with both now placed at 37th and 41st, respectively.

In the ICC bowlers’ rankings, West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales jumped 24 places to take the 33rd spot. The right-arm pacer gained in rankings on the back of a stellar performance against Pakistan.

Seales picked up 10 wickets in the series, including a devastating six-wicket haul that ended the 34-year wait for the West Indies to win an ODI series against Pakistan.

Shaheen Afridi, who played two matches in the series, dropped one place to 13th with 599 points after managing to take four wickets.

Spinner Abrar Ahmed moved up three places to 54th, while Mohammad Nawaz maintained his 64th position, and Mohammad Wasim Jr dropped four places to 71st.

There were no changes in the top 10 as Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana continues to sit at the top position in the ICC bowlers rankings.

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TAROUBA: Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam was dismissed for a duck against West Indies in the second One Day International (ODI) here at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Put into bat, the Pakistan openers provided them with a cautious start as West Indies bowlers kept bowling in good areas.

The scorecard read 37 in 8.3 overs, when West Indies Jayden Seales laid the first blow, removing Saim Ayub, who was caught at slip. He made 23 from 31 balls, with the aid of four boundaries and a six.

Following his wicket, Babar Azam arrived at the crease; however, his stay was cut short as Seales cleaned him up with a beautiful delivery.

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Babar Azam played three balls before getting bowled in the ninth over.

With Babar Azam wicket, the West Indies seamer completed his double-wicket maiden as the tourists were reduced to 37/2 in nine overs in the second ODI.

While Babar Azam failed to open his account in the ongoing game, he had started the previous match on a solid note, which Pakistan won by five wickets.

Babar Azam scored 47 off 64 balls before his dismissal in the first Pakistan vs West Indies ODI on August 8.

It is worth noting here that the tourists lead the three-match series 1-0 after Hassan Nawaz’s 63 helped them chase down the 284-run target in 48.5 overs.

Playing XIs

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TAROUBA: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bowl first in the first One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series against West Indies at Brian Lara Stadium on Friday.

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan and ace batter Babar Azam are back in the mix after the Green Shirts’ series win in the T20I series.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Hasan Nawaz, 7 Hussain Talat, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Sufiyan Muqeem

West Indies: 1 Brandon King, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (Capt, wk), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Shamar Joseph, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Jediah Blades

HEAD TO HEAD

Pakistan and the West Indies have played a total of 137 matches, with the West Indies leading the head-to-head with 71 victories. Pakistan has won 63 matches, while three games ended in a tie.

Matches 137, Pakistan 63, West Indies 71

It’s worth noting that after the series opener today, Pakistan and West Indies will play subsequent ODIs at the same venue on August 10 and 12, respectively.

Squads

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Johann Layne, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.

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