Pakistan's cricket community is ablaze after Chief Selector Ajib Javed confirmed that the recent rumors were true and Babar Azam will not be in the 17-member squad for the T20I Asia Cup. Fans were taken by surprise as they expected the experienced batter to play at this big tournament, but Javed said that they were committed to their team plans, and every decision made was with the long-term plan in mind.

Babar, who is one of Pakistan's biggest run-scorers over the past couple of years, has been outside of the T20I considerations in the last few series, but his omission from the Asia Cup squad has opened up more conversations about the selectors and their perceived biases. Pakistan appears interested in reshaping its batting order and giving younger and newer players opportunities, and management seems focused on keeping a modern look at its talent targets and avoiding perceived inheritances.

ALSO SEE: 3 Teams Who Should Target Prithvi Shaw for IPL 2026, Featuring Chennai Super Kings

Babar Azam left out of Asia Cup squad but kept on standby by selectors

Reports additionally indicate that Babar was unable to participate in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this season either. It’s believed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not want him playing franchise cricket abroad, instead preferring him to stay on standby for the Asia Cup. While Babar may be off the main squad for now, it shows the selectors have him in their plans for something like a back-up during the tournament, in case they need to call on him.

This situation has raised plenty of debate among fans and experts alike. Some claim it's a risk to leave out a player of Babar's quality, particularly for such an important tournament, given his experience and ability to set an innings up, which has been crucial in recent tournaments. Other comparisons have been made that the selectors are looking ahead and are right to be building a team for the future, capable of doing well and adapting to the fast pace of modern T20 games.

Babar Azam's role in Pakistan's T20 set-up can be somewhat uncertain at the moment. Given his absence, Pakistan may seem to be heading in a different direction strategically, but with him being kept on standby, we cannot officially discount him being called into the playing XI.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released the list of central contracts for male cricketers, awarding contracts to 30 players for the 2025-26 season, which will run from the 1st of July 2025, to June 30, 2026, for all international cricket scheduled within the preferred window of January 1 to December 31.

In a major move, no player has been put in Category A, and 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup captain Babar Azam has been downgraded, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan to Category B, while almost everyone from the cricketing fraternity has reacted negatively.

Widening the pool

The PCB has cast a wider net this season, increasing the size of the list from 27 contracts to 30 contracts this time. In total, 12 players have been honoured from the new list, highlighting the commitment of the Board to invest in new players for the age-grade levels for the future.

The new contracts 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.

Promotions and Retentions

Strong performances both domestically and internationally have resulted in five players being promoted from Category C to B:

• Abrar Ahmed
• Haris Rauf
• Saim Ayub
• Salman Ali Agha
• Shadab Khan

Nine players have retained their positions, including Shaheen Shah Afridi (B), Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan (C), Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (D).

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Ambati Rayudu picks this player as captain of India ODI team after Rohit Sharma

Players who missed out

Eight players have been disappointed this year, losing their contracts, including Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan, who were in Category D last season.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has awarded central contracts to 30 male cricketers for the upcoming 2025–26 international season. No A Category, Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen fail to retain A category, test captain Shan Masood in D category. Shadab promoted. The contracts,…

— Abdul Majid Bhatti (@bhattimajid) August 19, 2025

Complete list of contracted players for 2025-26

Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, 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, 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, Sufyan Moqim

The lack of a Category A group and the relegation of the highest-profile cricketers from Pakistan represent a daring and controversial action on the part of the PCB. The 2025-26 season has already given fingers crossed for a packed schedule, and we are left to consider the aftermath - how this new structure will affect team dynamics and player performance going forward.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently unveiled a 17-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE, with Salman Ali Agha appointed as captain. While the squad features several promising youngsters, it notably excludes experienced stars Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and pacer Naseem Shah. Instead, selectors opted for Mohammad Wasim Jr. to bolster the pace unit. The absence of Babar and Rizwan is not entirely surprising, as Pakistan already played without them in T20I series against Bangladesh and the West Indies earlier this year.

However, the decision has sparked strong reactions, with former Pakistan pacer Tanvir Ahmed suggesting that both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should consider retiring from international cricket if they feel undervalued by the board. According to Ahmed, the duo may interpret their omission from the Asia Cup 2025 squad as a sign of disrespect. He even compared their situation to Virat Kohli’s career path, implying the players could weigh retirement as an option if they continue to feel sidelined.

See Also: Investigation confirms match-fixing probe in recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League

“If Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are feeling disrespected, I request them to consider retiring from International cricket. We have examples like Virat Kohli in front of us”, expressed the former speedster via his social media handles.

Why Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were moved out of squad?

Once ranked as the No.1 T20I batter, Babar Azam now finds himself excluded from Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad, marking a dramatic decline. His return as captain during the ICC T20 World Cup in the USA ended in disappointment, with Pakistan crashing out in the group stage. Mohammad Rizwan, who was also part of that campaign, has faced a similar downfall. While some argue they were unfairly dropped, the duo have underperformed in recent outings. Head coach Mike Hesson stressed Babar must improve specific areas of his game to make a comeback.

Hesson further suggested that Babar should consider opportunities in franchise cricket, such as the Big Bash League (BBL), to rebuild form and confidence. Meanwhile, former pacer Tanvir Ahmed has stirred debate by questioning the inclusion of Fakhar Zaman in the Asia Cup squad. The left-hander, who suffered a hamstring injury in the West Indies series, may have been rushed back too soon. His performance in the Asia Cup will likely determine if his selection was justified or forced.

No one anticipated the Pakistan Cricket Board to take a bold step of dropping their former captain of the shortest format, Babar Azam, from their 17-member squad of the upcoming tri-series in Sharjah against the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan, and later in the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

This is a dramatic shift in the T20I plans for Pakistan ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. Babar has overall smashed 4223 runs in 121 innings at an average of nearly 40 and a strike rate of 130, including three centuries and 36 half-centuries, with his best score 122 runs. Overall, he has incredible experience of over 11000 runs in 309 T20 innings at a strike rate of 129.33.

See Also: Pakistan announce 17-member squad for Asia Cup 2025

It's a sign that the selectors of the Green Brigade are leading towards the impact-driven players, who have been delivering consistent performances in recent months. Babar tends to start slow in the powerplay, and once he gets out, the entire pressure boils down on the middle order to make an extraordinary impact in the clash.

Explained why Babar Azam was not selected in Pakistan's Asia Cup 2025 squad

The last T20I clash for Babar came in December 2024 against South Africa. He endured tough runs with the bat, managing a duck in one affair and another 31-run knock during the second affair. Since the trip to the Rainbow Nation, the Pakistan side has played 14 T20Is, with all the games taking place in the absence of Rizwan and Babar.

In the previous season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the right-handed batter smashed 288 runs in 10 innings at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 128.57, with the help of three half-centuries at the best score of 94 runs for Peshawar Zalmi.

“The BBL could be the perfect stage for Babar Azam to show how much he has sharpened his T20 game. A player of his class is simply too big to be left out of consideration.” Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, expressed the thought process of taking the big calls on dropping Babar for the Asia Cup. However, there is speculation of whether the national side has seen the last of the batter in T20Is.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a bombshell step by including both their veteran players, Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, in the 17-member squad of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Neither batter will be part of the tri-series in Sharjah against the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan as preparation for the event.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the 17-member squad of Pakistan as their aggressive opening batter. Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the West Indies and didn’t participate in the final game of the three-match T20I series, has recovered to return to the squad. Babar’s last T20I came in December 2024.

See Also: Sony Network puts heavy advertisement price for India's matches ahead of Asia Cup 2025

During the recent season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the former captain had scores of 56*, 53*, and 94 across his last seven fixtures for the Peshawar Zalmi. During the three-match ODI series in the Caribbean, he returned with just 56 runs with the best score of 47. This has been the same case with the 50-over captain, Mohammed Rizwan, who didn’t feature in the T20I series at home and away against Bangladesh.

No Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan in Pakistan’s Tri-series squad and Asia Cup 2025

The Green Brigade is placed in Group A alongside India, Oman, and the UAE. They will begin their campaign on September 12 against Oman, followed by the highly anticipated clash over the Blue Brigade on September 14 at the same venue. All the games of the tri-series will take place in Sharjah, which will not host a single game of the Asia Cup 2025.

Apart from Babar and Rizwan, Naseem Shah is also not part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Hasan Ali has returned to his place with leg-spinner, Abrar Ahmed, with no place for the veteran spin all-rounder, Shadab Khan. Mohammed Haris is expected to be wearing the wicket-keeping gloves.

Pakistan’s tri-series and Asia Cup 2025 squad

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khusdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem.

Pakistan has announced the squad for Asia Cup 2025. In a surprising twist, the team has dropped their premier players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah from the squad. The move to drop Babar and Rizwan came as the management cited strike issues of the duo and their desire to have a aggressive top order. Naseem Shah’s exclusion came as the pacer is running out of form in the T20Is.

Salman Ali Agha is set to lead the side and the fans on twitter have mixed reaction over the snubbing of star players. While some say the move was expected, others have cited the issue highlighted by the Pakistan management as the sole reason for neglecting the trio.

See Also: Gautam Gambhir's tenure over? Cheteshwar Pujara predicts this legend as India's new head coach

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim.

Here are twitter reactions from fans: 

Not including Babar Azam in the squad is beyond my understanding. Babar is a senior player and also the backbone of Pakistan. It’s a big event, and Babar should be in the team.#AsiaCup2025|#BabarAzam𓃵 pic.twitter.com/dETQiUM6zp

— BABAR🐐 (@BabarArmyGang1) August 17, 2025

The squad for pakistan Asia cup 2025 is here

And the name of babar azam isn’t there

Guess they want babar to prove his form first pic.twitter.com/DwvN4tiSSr

— kashif farid (@kash8778) August 17, 2025

Mike Hesson says Babar Azam can show his T20I improvement in the BBL, and as an exceptional player, he must be considered. 👀🥱 #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/lKr12uQNDV

— CricFollow (@CricFollow56) August 17, 2025

Best of luck to boys for the Asia Cup. Now that we've removed the real problem, Babar Azam, from the squad, nothing can stop us from winning the trophy 🔥🔥

Good luck and full support pic.twitter.com/yMDkGmintc

— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian) August 17, 2025

Those who still say Babar Azam hasn't won games for Pakistan, are idiots.#BabarAzam #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/wYGiDOwVix

— Zaraq Afzal (@afzal_zara26257) August 16, 2025

🚨 BIG BREAKING 🚨

- Tuk Tuk Babar Azam and Tuk Tuk Mohammed Rizwan dropped from Pakistan's 🇵🇰 Asia Cup 2025 squad 😲

- After almost 2 years, the PCB has taken a good decision 👏🏻

- What's your take on this 🤔pic.twitter.com/yzvsiFgKrx

— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) August 17, 2025

With the Asian Cricket Council confirming the schedule for the Asia Cup 2025, slated for September 9 to 28 in the UAE. The marquee India-Pakistan face-off on September 14 is one of the most awaited matches of the year. Given the format, both sides could potentially meet up to three times during the tournament. For Pakistan, the event carries added weight, as it could be a turning point for their batting icon, Babar Azam.

Babar Azam’s Struggles in Recent Times

Once seen as one of the most reliable run-scorers in international cricket, Babar is presently experiencing a prolonged run of low scores. It has been 28 innings and 711 days since he made an international hundred, an innings made in August 2023 against Nepal. As the Asia Cup arrives, questions worsen if Babar can end this run of low scores and deliver a performance reminiscent of Virat Kohli's resurgence.

In his last 71 innings in all formats, Babar has scored 18 fifties but has not scored a triple-figure score. His highest score during this streak is just 81, and there have been five ODI ducks, one of his recorded three balls against the West Indies. Analysts have different opinions ranging from technical flaws, the pressure of being Pakistan's former captain, batting role changes, and a potential mental burn-out and fatigue from endless cricket.

See Also: Jasprit Bumrah set to play Asia Cup 2025: Report

Kohli’s Famous Return to Form

Virat Kohli also endured a notable dip between November 2019 and September 2022, going 71 innings without a century, though he continued to score fifties. During that time, many wondered whether his prime had passed. However, he silenced doubters at the 2022 Asia Cup with a scintillating unbeaten 122 off 61 balls against Afghanistan his maiden T20I hundred.

That knock re-energized his career and began a grand stretch of batting which included passing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries at the 2023 World Cup. Kohli went on to become the first batter to score 51 ODI hundreds, showing that sometimes, that one big innings can lead to a series of great performances.

Parallels Between Babar and Kohli’s Slumps

Babar's current predicament mirrors Kohli's issues pre-2022: a number of starts without big runs, the pressures of the public, and continuous comparisons to the performances from a previous time. They both had to live through more than 70 innings without a century, while being highly scrutinzed.

Kohli's resurgence, though, was more than an innings - it was the beginning of sustained excellence in all formats of the game. For Babar to have a similar outcome he needs to use the Asia Cup as a springboard and continue to score runs consistently. One point of difference is strike rate: even in his lean patch, Kohli maintained an ODI strike rate above 90, while Babar has sometimes been criticised for slowing down in the middle overs.

Keys to a Babar Azam Comeback

Interestingly, Kohli’s turnaround began in this very tournament, and Babar’s last international hundred also came during an Asia Cup edition. Playing in the UAE, where he has extensive experience, could give him a mental edge.

With India and Pakistan potentially facing off multiple times, Babar will have the perfect stage to deliver a defining knock. A match-winning century against India might have an immediate impact on his form just like Kohli's innings against Afghanistan did. But to truly achieve a Kohli-esque revitalization, Babar must strive for sustained consistency and convert returned confidence into a long period of unparalleled excellence across all formats. Pakistan's hopes of raising the trophy may depend on whether their star batter finds his magic. 

The former Pakistan opening batter, Ahmed Shahzad, has again mocked the ODI performance of the former captain, Babar Azam, during the three-match ODI series against West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium, where the veteran failed terribly, which resulted in their first 50-over series defeat against this opposition in 34 years.

Shehzad reckoned that the trend of comparing batters with the modern-day great, Virat Kohli, should stop immediately. His comments came after Babar made just 56 runs in the three innings. Out of these, his first knock saw him getting 47 runs along with a duck in the second encounter at Tarouba against the West Indies. Shehzad felt that many batters can’t handle the pressure as Kohli does.

See Also: Know how Shri Shiv Rudrashtakam Stotra contributed to India’s victory during ENG vs IND 5th Test

“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. He is a legend of this generation, a role model.” The former Pakistan opening batter expressed as the video went viral.

Watch: Ahmed Shahzad mocks Babar Azam’s failure during WI vs PAK 2025 ODI series  

It has been a tough period for Babar in the ODI formats as he has now gone 72 consecutive innings without a century. His last hundred came against Nepal during the home fixture of the Asia Cup 20223. No other cricketer has endured a longer drought without a century since 2023. Shahzad also refused to compare MS Dhoni with Virat Kohli.

Ahmad shahzad on babar AZAM performance against westindies #BabarAzam #BabarAzam𓃵 #PakvsWI #WIvsPAK pic.twitter.com/lWphZhsrfB

— Altamash Iqbal (@altamashi25) August 12, 2025

“You cannot compare him even with MS Dhoni. 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.” The former opening batter shed light.

There were so many expectations from the batter during their 295-run chase in the last 50-over clash, especially when they lost two early wickets in the second innings. But Babar ended with just nine runs in 23 balls after being trapped leg before the stumps on the bowling of Jaydan Seales. As a team, the Green Brigade suffered a huge 202-run defeat.

Pakistan batter Babar Azam’s tough patch with the bat continued on Sunday, August 10, in the second ODI against West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba. He was out for a three-ball duck, leaving fans shocked and critics ready with their jokes.

In the ninth over, Jayden Seales bowled a full delivery that swung in late and knocked over Babar’s stumps. The West Indies crowd roared in celebration while Babar walked back quietly, head down. It was his first duck in 31 ODIs a rare low for the Pakistan skipper.

Social media wasted no time reacting. Memes, jokes, and sarcastic comments poured in. One fan wrote, “Babar Azam missed his century by 100 runs.” Another called him “the most overrated batsman in Pakistan cricket.” Some even reminded how much backing he has had. “Mickey Arthur supported him, Sarfaraz Ahmed groomed him, Imran Khan suggested him for captaincy, Ramiz Raja gave him full authority. He was never dropped like others from 2016–2024. Babar has himself to blame,” wrote a fan.

Babar hasn’t scored a hundred since his 151 against Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023. Since then, it’s been 71 innings without reaching three figures. While he still scores runs and anchors the innings, fans now want to see him convert starts into big scores. In the first ODI of this series, he made 47 off 64 balls to help Pakistan chase down a tough target. But his inability to turn good starts into match-winning knocks is becoming a talking point. With the series still alive, the big question is can Babar silence his critics and finally break this century drought.

ALSO READ: Top 3 reasons why Trent Rockets Womens lost to Northern Superchargers Women in the Hundred Women's 2025 match 8

A well-fought match resulted in a defeat for the West Indies and Pakistan as the winner of the day. A well-entertained matchup at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Trinidad and Tobago. West Indies, batting first, scored 280 with the help of multiple well-deserved innings. Pakistan in this match performed in a much more compact way; with the ball and with the bat, the visitor dominated over the host team. 

Toss and the first innings:

Mohammad Rizwan, skipper of Pakistan's ODI setup, asked West Indies to bat first after winning the toss. Starting strong with their plan, Pakistan took only 5 balls to draw the first blood of the game. WI opener Brandon King departed only with 4 runs. Evin Lewis and Keacy Carty helped the West Indies to bring back the fight after sustaining the early damage. Lewis scored 60, and Carty went for 30. In the middle, Captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase also tried their best to humble the touring side bowlers. In the lower-middle order, Gudakesh Motie's quick-fire 31 off 18 allowed West Indies to post 280 on the board. Shaheen Afridi was the best bowler for Pakistan in the match by clinching 4 wickets. 

Second innings:

The West Indies did not take too much time to get a breakthrough. Saim Ayub's early departure came as a ray of hope for the Caribbean. It was mainly Pakistan's middle order, which turned the table. Two experienced batters of the team, skipper Rizwan (53) and Babar Azam (47), stood tall against the firing West Indies bowling attack. Salman Ali Agha's wicket made the match more interesting until Hassan Nawaz (63*) and Hussain Talat (41*) joined the chase. These two batters took the match away from the home team. Pakistan won the first of the 3-match ODI by 5 wickets and 7 balls to spare. 

Pakistan take the 1st CG United ODI.🏏

We look to the 2nd ODI on Sunday to level the series.💪🏽#WIvPAK #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/ZzXe468nQ9

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 9, 2025

Read More: ENG vs IND: 'Needs a sanction to discourage...'- Ben Duckett's coach criticised controversial act from Akash Deep

WI vs PAK 1st ODI Highlights 

West Indies: 280

Pakistan: 284/5