Pakistan have announced their 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, with Salman Agha set to lead the side. Notably, senior batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out, continuing their absence from recent T20I squads.
Both players last featured in international T20s in December 2024 and were also overlooked for the home and away series against Bangladesh, as well as the recent tour of the West Indies. Their omission for a marquee tournament signals a strategic shift as Pakistan build towards the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Babar, who managed 288 runs at a strike rate of 128.57 for Peshawar Zalmi in the last Pakistan Super League season, and Rizwan, who scored 367 runs at 139.54 with a century for Multan Sultans, remain among Pakistan’s most experienced campaigners. However, head coach Mike Hesson hinted at areas of improvement.
“There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate. Those are things he’s working really hard on,” Hesson said. “But at the moment, the players we have have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three Player of the Match awards. A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider.”
Meanwhile, Salman Agha—appointed captain earlier this year—will also lead Pakistan in a tri-series against Afghanistan and hosts UAE, scheduled just before the Asia Cup begins on September 9.
The selectors have kept faith with the same 15 players who earned a 2-1 series win in the West Indies. Fakhar Zaman, who had missed the latter stages of that tour with a hamstring injury, has been declared fit. The squad also includes two fresh faces: left-arm seamer Salman Mirza and allrounder Mohammad Wasim.
Pakistan will open their Asia Cup campaign with a blockbuster clash against India on September 10 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Pakistan squad for UAE tri-series and Asia Cup 2025:
Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
