Former Pakistani cricketer Tanvir Ahmed alleged “Babar Azam pressure” forced the PCB to drop Category-A from new central contracts, a list that placed Babar in Category B.
Babar Azam pressure
The PCB’s contracts for 2025–26 cover 30 players, with 10 each in Categories B, C and D.
No player was awarded Category-A in this year.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan headline Category B alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan.
The pool expanded from 27 to 30, with 12 new cricketers.
Which includes Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Abbas.
Along with, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim.
Five players moved up a tier, led by Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub.
Tanvir Ahmed, posting on X, said selectors “got scared,” calling the A-category removal a “King effect.”
Furthermore, he warned that if Babar quit T20is, there would be an uproar across Pakistan. The PCB has not responded to his specific claim.
Supporters argue Babar remains Pakistan’s premier batter and a commercial giant.
Critics like Ahmed Shahzad counter that contract tiers should reflect current outputs across formats, not reputation.
What is clear from the PCB note is structure, not reasoning about the release lists categories and names but does not explain why Category A was scrapped.
One thing is clear from team management that it offers room to reward form quickly across formats while keeping the bench wide for a heavy calendar.
Whether this approach helps unity or blurs merit will show over coming major tournaments like Asia Cup.
In conclusion, Tanvir’s Babar Azam pressure claim adds heat to a sensitive change.
Moreover, if results dip, the contract design will face louder questions. A clear PCB briefing on the policy logic now looks essential.
Previously on the topic: Babar Azam absence will dent Asia Cup viewership and sponsorships
