Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2025
In a surprising move, the Pakistan Cricket Board has announced its 17-member squad for the upcoming T20 Asia Cup 2025, to be held in the UAE from August 29 to September 7. The squad, which will be led by Salman Ali Agha, notably omits star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, marking the first time since 2015 that Babar will not be a part of the Asia Cup.
Pakistan squad selection reflects a significant shift in Pakistan’s T20 team, with several new faces and a focus on youth. The team will play a triangular series in Sharjah against Afghanistan and the host, UAE.
Among the senior players who have retained their spots are opening batsman Fakhar Zaman and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz. Fakhar, a veteran of white-ball cricket, was part of the 2022 Asia Cup squad and will be a key player at the top of the order. Mohammad Nawaz, who has been a consistent presence in the team, also featured in the 2022 Asia Cup, where he was the third-highest wicket-taker.
Pacer Haris Rauf and fast bowler Hasan Ali, both of whom were part of the 2022 Asia Cup squad, have also been included. Haris Rauf had a strong performance in the 2022 tournament, finishing as the fifth-highest wicket-taker. Hasan Ali, who has been in and out of the team, has also secured a spot in the 2025 squad.
The rest of the squad includes: Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Husain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufian Mokim.
The decision to rest Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, two of Pakistan’s most prolific batsmen, is a bold one, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. The selectors seem to be looking at a new leadership group and giving opportunities to a wider pool of players. The 2023 Asia Cup was played in the ODI format, which was followed by the ODI World Cup, and a lot has changed in Pakistan cricket since then. The team management will be hoping that this new-look squad can deliver a strong performance in the T20 format.