Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the UAE Tri-Series. The biggest surprise is the exclusion of two senior players – Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. This is the first time in eight years that Babar will not feature in the Asia Cup, while Rizwan has also been left out.
The Asia Cup, which will be played in T20 format, begins on September 9 in the UAE. Pakistan’s first match will be against Oman on September 12 in Dubai, followed by the high-voltage clash against India on September 14.
Why Babar and Rizwan Are Missing Asia Cup 2025
The decision to leave out Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has surprised many fans. Both have been the backbone of Pakistan’s batting lineup for years. The PCB seems to be focusing on building a new team for the T20 World Cup 2026, and therefore has decided to try out young talent in this Asia Cup.
Salman Ali Agha has been named the captain of the side, while Mohammad Haris will take over wicketkeeping duties. Youngsters like Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz are also part of the squad, showing Pakistan’s intent to give opportunities to fresh faces.
Pakistan Team and Preparations
Before the Asia Cup, Pakistan will also play a tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan in the UAE. To maintain continuity, PCB has picked the same 17 players for both tournaments. This will help the team management test different combinations ahead of the Asia Cup.
The squad still has experienced players like Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, and Haris Rauf, who will provide balance with their skills. All-rounders Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, and Mohammad Nawaz give Pakistan depth in both batting and bowling.
Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2025
Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (Wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Mokim.
Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah’s Big Message to BCCI: Ready to Play Asia Cup
