The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to unveil its squad for the upcoming T20I tri-nation series and the Asia Cup 2025, with several key developments shaping the final selection.
The Men in Green will gear up for the 2025 Asia Cup by competing in a tri-nation T20I series against Afghanistan and the UAE in Sharjah. Ahead of the continental tournament, the series will serve as a crucial test for the squad. In the Asia Cup, Pakistan finds itself in Pool A alongside arch-rivals India, as well as Oman and hosts UAE.
While there is no official word yet, signs point towards the possible return of Babar Azam, while vice-captain Shadab Khan is almost certain to miss out due to injury, and opener Fakhar Zaman remains doubtful.
Babar, who last played a T20I in December 2024, has been out of favour since Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. Despite his modest recent form-236 runs in his last 10 T20Is at an average of 26-his experience and leadership continue to hold value by Head Coach Mike Hessen.
As per a report by CricketPakistan.com, Babar could be drafted back into the squad, especially if Fakhar Zaman fails to recover in time from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Caribbean tour.
Fakhar’s fitness is currently under assessment by the PCB medical team at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. While the PCB has not confirmed his unavailability, his participation in the Asia Cup remains uncertain, making room for a possible Babar comeback.
In the ongoing the West Indies tour, Babar Azam visited PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by ODI skipper Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Naseem Shah as per Zee News. This actually explains everything.
Meanwhile, Shadab Khan has been ruled out for up to three months till September-October due to a recurring shoulder injury, for which he underwent surgery, eliminating him from contention for both the tri-series and the Asia Cup.
T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, who has led the team through a transitional phase, is expected to retain his leadership role. Under his captaincy, Pakistan has had mixed results, securing series wins against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and the West Indies, while faltering against stronger sides like New Zealand.
The PCB is leaning towards a youth-focused squad but hasn’t ruled out recalling experienced players like Babar, particularly for high-pressure games against arch-rivals India. The final squad is expected to be announced in the second week of August, with decisions hinging on player fitness and team balance.
Pakistan’s Probable Squad For Asia Cup 2025: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam/Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha (C), Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan, Faheem Ashraf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Salman Mirza.