Pakistan have named a 17-member squad for the upcoming UAE T20I tri-series and Asia Cup 2025 starting from September 9.
Babar, Rizwan overlooked
Both Babar and Rizwan last played a T20I back in December last year. With their strike rates at the top order being a concern, Pakistan have since moved away from their two senior players. Their most recent international outing was in the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies, which Pakistan lost.
Personally, neither of them had the likeliest of outings, with Rizwan managing 69 runs at 23 and Babar 56 at 18.67. Despite that, there were rumours of two returning to Pakistan’s squad for the Asia Cup, which is set to be played in the T20I format this year. But that hasn’t been the case.
Pakistan instead are keeping faith in Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Haris to take responsibility in the top order.
Naseem Shah ignored
Among bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been in and out of the squad recently, gets a place alongside fellow left-arm seamer Salman Mirza, who impressed on his debut against Bangladesh in July with seven wickets at an average of 8.57 and an economy of 5.21.
Haris Rauf made the cut as well, but not Naseem Shah. Naseem was Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker (5 wickets) in their ODI series defeat to West Indies. However, his economy rate of 7.05 across those three matches underscored his struggles. He last played a T20I in November last year.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, another comeback man who has impressed since his return to the squad against Bangladesh and was the Player of the Series in their T20I series win over West Indies, retains his place.
Mohammad Wasim Jr, who last played a T20I for Pakistan in January last year, also returns to the side.
The squad will first compete in a tri-series against hosts UAE and Afghanistan from August 29 to September 7, before beginning their Asia Cup campaign. Their group stage matches include fixtures against Oman on September 12, India on September 14, and UAE on September 17.
Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 squad
Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
Babar Azam ❌
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 17, 2025
Mohammad Rizwan ❌
Naseem Shah ❌
Pakistan have named a 17-member squad for the 2025 Asia Cup.#AsiaCup #Cricket pic.twitter.com/sr6mbkG9aG
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