Babar Azam Resumes Training in Lahore

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has commenced his training regimen in Lahore following his return from a brief sojourn in the United States after the West Indies ODI series.

On Friday, Babar initiated his batting practice at a local cricket facility, engaging in batting drills alongside young aspiring cricketers. Sources indicate that he may participate in a local tournament organized by the institute as part of his ongoing preparations.

In the recent ODI series against the West Indies, the right-handed batsman faced challenges with his form, accumulating only 56 runs in three matches, with a top score of 47.

Furthermore, Babar was not selected for Pakistan’s T20 squad for the Asia Cup, and his central contract was adjusted from Category A to Category B.

Last week, the PCB unveiled central contracts for 30 male cricketers, with no player assigned to category A this year.

Unlike prior years, categories B, C, and D each contain ten players.

The pool of contracted players has grown from 27 to 30, with 12 new entrants, including 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.

Five players—Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shadab Khan—have been promoted from Category C to B due to their notable performances.

Nine players have maintained their positions, including Abdullah Shafique in Category C, and Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr in Category D.

The new contracts are valid from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.