Pakistan has revealed its squads for the upcoming T20I tri-series and the Asia Cup, both set to take place in the UAE from 29 August to 28 September.
Salman Agha will continue as captain, leading a team coached by Mike Hesson. Notably, senior players Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have been omitted from the T20 format.
The Asia Cup 2025 squad includes Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem.
Pakistan’s Group and Matches
Placed in Group ‘A’, Pakistan will compete against India, Oman, and UAE. Their campaign kicks off on September 12 against Oman. The much-anticipated clash with India follows on September 14 at the same venue.
The tri-series will feature Afghanistan, Pakistan, and UAE. Matches are scheduled at Sharjah Cricket Stadium between August 29 and September 7. This tournament serves as preparation for the Asia Cup.
Key Players in Focus
Despite being overlooked for T20s, senior players like Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf have secured their spots. Reliable batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah are also included. Star wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris retains his position.
The selectors have shown confidence in young talents such as Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim. These players are expected to bring fresh energy to the team dynamics.
Asia Cup Schedule Highlights
The Asia Cup schedule is packed with exciting matches. Key fixtures include India vs UAE on September 10 and Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka on September 13. The final showdown is slated for September 28.
| Match No | Teams | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan vs Hong Kong | Sept 9 |
| 2 | India vs UAE | Sept 10 |
| 3 | Bangladesh vs Hong Kong | Sept 11 |
| 4 | Pakistan vs Oman | Sept 12 |
| 5 | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | Sept 13 |
| 6 | India vs Pakistan | Sept 14 |
| 7 | UAE vs Oman | Sept 15 |
| …and more matches leading up to the final… | ||
| Final: Sept 28 | ||
The Pakistani team aims to bounce back after a heavy defeat by West Indies in an ODI series decider last week. They lost by a significant margin of 202 runs.