Pakistan has announced their squad for the Asia Cup 2025; however, former star paceman Shoaib Akhtar predicts Afghanistan will keep Pakistan below 130 in the tri-series, and that would result in 3 changes in the Pakistan 17-member lineup for the Asia Cup 2025.
The Asia Cup has been cited as a very crucial tournament by the PCB, since it is an opportunity for them to overcome the previous weak performances from the Pakistan National Cricket Team. After an array of weak performances throughout ICC tournaments as well as in bilateral series, Pakistan has adopted some strict steps towards even senior cricketers who have missed out on form.
They were the first team to release their 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025, since they excluded the likes of veteran cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan from the lineup. Mike Hesson, the new head coach and Aaqib Javed from the selection committee clearly mentioned that players who have shown promising form have been picked.
Shoaib Akhtar’s humiliating claim on the Pakistan team for the tri-series
With the 17-member squad missing out on several big names and the inclusion of several new players, former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar has shown doubt on the credibility of the side to even sustain an Afghan attack during the Tri-series, forget winning the Asia Cup.
Akhtar has mentioned that this team looks like amateurs; forget about big scores, they will be restricted to just 130-140 by the world-class Afghanistan bowlers. Afghanistan were, anyway, the semi-finalists from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean.
Shoaib Akhtar, “Is this tri-series squad the final squad selected for the Asia Cup? I can bet you there will be changes made in the squad. Will the Afghanistan side let them win?”
He further added, “If Pakistan with this lineup can score even upto 130, then I would consider them ideal to play in the Asia Cup, but I can assure you that they won’t be able to do that. This is going to be a very tough tri-series for Pakistan.”
Akhtar hints at 3 changes in the Pakistan team – Will Babar-Rizwan return for Asia Cup 2025?
While speaking to the host, who wanted Shoaib’s opinion on the exclusion of Babar Azam from the Asia Cup squad, the paceman assured that a minimum of three changes will be made to the lineup after the tri-series.
Shoaib Akhtar, “From this squad, there will be a minimum of three changes in the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup 2025.”
On this wild claim, when asked about who these three changes would be, Shoaib Akhtar peeked into the copy of Pakistani Hall of Famer Sana Mir and replied that the likes of ‘Aamer Jamal, Mir Hamza and Usama Mir’ have been identified as the players who could be drafted in.
He also poked at the Pakistani selectors, saying, “You can take these guys (pointing to his fellow mates in the talk show) they will select a better team for you.”
30th August marks the last date to announce the final squads for the Asia Cup 2025
Though the former Pakistani cricketer has made awkward claims, it is believed that the tri-series has been scheduled to start on the 29th of August, while the Asian Cricket Council has placed the 30th of August as the final date for announcing squads or any changes to them for the Asia Cup 2025.
Hence, if any changes are to be made citing their performance in the tri-series, then the Pakistan selectors, as well as the management, would have just one starting match between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the 29th.