Pakistan Announces Shock 17-Member Squad for UAE Tri-Series & Asia Cup 2025
A Bold Shake-Up in Strategy
On August 17, 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a 17-member squad for the upcoming T20 tri-series in the UAE—featuring Afghanistan and the UAE—and the Asia Cup 2025.
In a surprising twist, two of Pakistan’s most iconic players, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, were both excluded from selection. This bold decision marks a deliberate move by the selectors to reshape the team with a more aggressive and dynamic batting lineup.
Leadership & Vision
Captain: Salman Ali Agha has been entrusted with leadership duties for both tournaments.
Coach’s Rationale: Coach Mike Hesson emphasized that Babar was asked to improve specific aspects of his T20 game—particularly taking on spin and elevating his strike rate.
Selector’s View: Chief selector Aqib Javed noted that exclusion isn’t permanent; players like Babar and Rizwan still have opportunities to earn their way back by performing strongly in leagues such as the PSL or Big Bash.
Full 17-Member Squad
The final squad is a blend of experienced performers and exciting youngsters:
1. Salman Ali Agha (captain)
2. Abrar Ahmed
3. Faheem Ashraf
4. Fakhar Zaman
5. Haris Rauf
6. Hasan Ali
7. Hasan Nawaz
8. Hussain Talat
9. Khushdil Shah
10. Mohammad Haris (wk)
11. Mohammad Nawaz
12. Mohammad Waseem Jr.
13. Sahibzada Farhan
14. Saim Ayub
15. Salman Mirza
16. Shaheen Shah Afridi
17. Sufyan Moqim
Why Babar and Rizwan Missed Out
Strike-Rate Concerns: Both Babar and Rizwan were excluded primarily due to underwhelming T20 strike rates and a lack of aggression required in modern T20 cricket.
Recent Form: Babar managed just 56 runs in three recent ODIs against the West Indies, while Rizwan’s numbers also fell short of expectations.
Emerging Options: Selectors opted for younger, in-form players such as Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Waseem Jr., believing they offer more attacking options at the top and middle order.
Tournament Roadmap
Tri-Series (Sharjah): Pakistan will face Afghanistan and the UAE from August 29 to September 7 as part of their T20I preparations.
Asia Cup 2025 (UAE):
Group A Fixtures:
Pakistan vs Oman – September 12
Pakistan vs India – September 14
Pakistan vs UAE – September 17
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