Pakistan announced their squad for the 2025 Asia Cup earlier this week. Here's what their playing XI could look like for the tournament.
The biggest news from the announcement was the exclusion of senior batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Fast bowler Naseem Shah also missed out on the 17-member squad. Pakistan's playing XI may look clearer once their pre-Asia Cup tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan gets underway, but here's what it could look like, based on the sides they have put out since new coach Mike Hesson took charge.
They have been drawn in Group A alongside India, Oman and the UAE.
Pakistan's Asia Cup squad
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Top order
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk)
Two of the spots here appear locked in. Opener Saim Ayub and wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris have played all nine of Pakistan's T20Is since Hesson was appointed head coach, and should continue to make the first XI. Ayub has averaged only 23 in this time, but remains an explosive player at the top of the order, and gives Pakistan an extra dimension with his mystery spin.
His spot may be near-certain, but Haris's position in the batting order most likely won't be. He's batted mainly at No.3, but went as low as eight once, and has played a couple of times at No.4. Flexibility appears to be the coach's watchword.
For the other opening slot, Sahibzada Farhan could well get the nod to keep a right-left combination up top. Fakhar Zaman has opened with Ayub on occasion, but when both Farhan and Fakhar played, it was the former who opened, with Fakhar at No.3. However, in the event that Fakhar finds some form in the tri-series, and/or Farhan has a slight dip, don't be surprised if this pick comes down to form.
Middle order
Hassan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (c)
Hassan Nawaz, and skipper Salman Ali Agha are two other players who have been picked for every game under Hesson. Agha may not have the greatest T20 pedigree, but he does buck the trend somewhat, of captains who can be stubborn about their batting position. Like Haris, he's also floated around the order according to the team's needs.
Nawaz has been a revelation for Pakistan in the T20 format; a genuine power-hitter who in the eyes of many, plays the format the way it's meant to be played – and is openly one of the coach's favourites. He's mainly opened in the PSL, but a shift to the middle order has done him no harm at all. In 14 T20Is overall, he's hit more sixes (27) than fours (19), and strikes at over 175. Pakistan will bank on him to provide some post-Powerplay impetus.
All-rounders
Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf
Pakistan's recent team construction has seen them go quite heavy on all-rounders. Most recent fixtures have seen them play three, with the likes of Abbas Afridi (not in the Asia Cup squad) and Hussain Talat also featuring on occasion.
Faheem Ashraf appears to be the first-choice seam-bowling all-rounder; he is the fifth and final player that has featured in every game under Hesson. Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nawaz both bowl left-arm spin, the former more a batting all-rounder and the latter a bowling all-rounder. On the recent tour of the West Indies, Pakistan were not shy to have Nawaz opening the bowling from one end (incidentally, he was named Player of the Series).
Faheem will most likely slot in at No.8 and act as the third quick, while No.s 5-7 might see situation or conditions-based shuffling between Agha, Nawaz and Khushdil.
Bowlers
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed/Mohammad Wasim Jnr
The bowling department is perhaps the toughest to predict, since this has seen the most change under the most recent management. Hasan Ali has featured the most, in five games, and is part of the squad but it is difficult to look beyond Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf as the frontline quicks, and the aforementioned Faheem as the third.
The final spot in the XI is a tricky one. Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm leggie Sufiyan Muqeem both have the potential to trouble the best players, but Abrar might narrowly be first-choice; Muqeem only got a chance in the West Indies, after Abrar played against Bangladesh at home.
Also read: Sufiyan Muqeem, Pakistan's newest record-breaker, is a bowler like no other
If conditions dictate, Pakistan may want a third quick. Ahmed Daniyal and Salman Mirza are both options, but Mohammad Wasim Jnr's selection is interesting. He hasn't played a single game since Hesson took charge, and is currently playing the Top End T20 Series for the Shaheens. One of Wasim's strengths is the ability to generate reverse swing in the slog overs, and pitches in the UAE could be conducive to that, if they are somewhat dry – it would be a selection for a highly specific purpose, if he were to make it to the XI.
Three specialist bowlers and three all-rounders, with Ayub and Agha providing part-time options has been the template of the Hesson era so far, attempting to give Pakistan plenty of bowling options, and a deep batting lineup.
Pakistan's predicted playing XI for 2025 Asia Cup
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Saim Ayub
- Mohammad Haris (wk)
- Hasan Nawaz
- Agha Salman (c)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Khushdil Shah
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Haris Rauf
- Abrar Ahmed/Mohammad Wasim Jnr
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