All the eight teams participating in Asia Cup 2025 are coming off respective matches into the continental tournament. The 17th edition of the multinational tournament is already underway, with all teams having played at least a match each.
Speaking of Pakistan, they arrive following a rich 20-over diet. The Asian giants played Bangladesh twice (home and away), West Indies and the tri-series involving UAE and Afghanistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier stunned the cricket fraternity by dropping two of their most experienced individuals in the form of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad. This was mainly due to poor returns since a long time. There are a few other players in the squad, who despite having been selected, have not quite had the impact that they should have prior to the tournament.
Top 3 out-of-form Pakistan players in Asia Cup 2025
3. Hasan Ali
Ahead of representing the national side in August, Hasan Ali had had a fine T20 Blast campaign for Birmingham Bears, picking up 25 wickets in just 12 matches at an outstanding average of 15.00. With wickets under his belt, a lot was expected from the right-arm pacer. However, he did not quite replicate the performances while with Pakistan.
Hasan played three T20Is and two ODIs prior to the commencement of the ongoing continental tournament. He gave away 48, 38 and 47 runs in the 20-over games. He also returned wicketless in one of the ODIs, conceding 60 runs in his allotted quota. It will be interesting to see if the ace pacer can find some form, which will be crucial to the Men in Green’s success in the event.
2. Salman Ali Agha
Salman Ali Agha was announced as Pakistan captain in the shortest format of the game after the national selection committee decided to axe Babar and Rizwan in March. Although his team has done quite decently under his leadership, Agha’s individual performances have not really been up to the mark.
In the previous 10 white-ball games (including Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against Oman), Agha has bowled only four times. With the bat, he has registered three single-digit scores and has scored only one 30-plus score in addition to the first-ball duck against Oman.
1. Saim Ayub
Saim Ayub is considered as a proper explosive top-order batter in the shorter formats. He has played many a blistering knocks in franchise competitions and for the national outfit too. However, his form leading up to the marquee T20 competition has been far from impressive.
He has chipped in with the ball with some handy off-breaks and has done quite a decent job at it too. However, with the bat, his highest score in the previous 10 white-ball scores apart from a couple of 60s has been 23. Like Agha, Ayub was dismissed for a golden duck against Oman too. He would look to get some runs under his belt to gain confidence.