The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the tri-series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They have taken a huge decision by dropping both their veteran batters, Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan.

Neither player was in the T20I plans of the Salman Ali Agha-led side for the last few months. Babar and Rizwan tend to play slowly inside the first six overs of the T20I innings, which doesn’t match the excitement of the shortest format these days.

Pakistan’s squad for Asia Cup 2025

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khusdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem

Let’s take a look at Pakistan’s strongest playing eleven for Asia Cup 2025

Fakhar Zaman expected to bat at number three for Pakistan

Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan are expected to open the batting for the Green Brigade in the shortest format. The former has smashed 705 T20I runs in 34 innings at a strike rate of 137.15. During the third and final T20I of the series against West Indies in Lauderhill, he notched up 66 runs.

See Also: Why Babar Azam not selected in Pakistan's Asia Cup 2025 squad

Sahibzada has slowly started to get along with their T20I plans, having drilled 315 runs in 15 innings at an average of 21 and a strike rate of 127.01 with the help of three fifties at the best score of 74 runs. Fakhar Zaman can be slotted at number three as the southpaw has smashed 1949 runs in 89 T20I innings at a strike rate of 131.77.

Mohammed Harris can play key role in Pakistan’s middle order

Mohammed Harris is expected to be the first-choice wicket-keeper batter of the side in the middle order. The right-handed batter has smashed a total of 391 runs in 23 innings at a strike rate of 145. Salman Ali Agha, the leader of the national side, will have to shoulder the responsibility of the national side.

The 31-year-old has clubbed 380 runs in 18 innings at a strike rate of just 115, with three fifties at the best score of 56 runs. Hasan Nawaz and Mohammed Nawaz will also be the vital two members of the side.

Mohammed Nawaz has the skill to smack the big shots around the park, coming late in the batting order, besides picking up wickets and drying up the runs in the middle overs of the innings. The southpaw has smacked 518 runs in 43 innings at a strike rate of 132.48 and picked up 60 wickets at an average of 24.36 and an economy rate of just over seven.

The middle order has been the biggest issue for the Green Brigade, and that’s where they will need to improve their batting and find better spinners in the middle overs to pick wickets.

No Nassem Shah for Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

It was surprising to see the selectors ignoring Naseem Shah for the Asia Cup 2025, which suggests that the selectors won’t have much trust in the premier pacer and could leave him out during the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Shaheen Afridi, without any doubt, will be the leader of the pace attack. The left-arm pacer has overall picked up 104 T20I wickets in 81 innings at an average of 22.25 and a strike rate of 16.9, along with an economy rate of just under eight. He has picked up crucial wickets for the side with the new ball.

On the other hand, Haris Rauf can challenge the batters with his expressive pace in the middle overs. Rauf has bagged a total of 120 wickets in 85 T20Is at an average of under 22 and an economy rate of 8.30, with the figures of 4/18 in an innings.

Sufian Muqeem has also recorded 21 wickets in 13 T20I innings at an average of under 12 and an economy rate of under six. His spin bowling has been hard to understand for the opposing sides, which could prove to be an advantage for the Green Brigade.

They will begin their competition against Oman on September 12, while two days later, they will lock horns with the arch-rivals, India, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The entire event will take place across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with no game scheduled to take place in Sharjah. Eyes will be on the team in what’s expected to be a new chapter in Pakistan’s T20I side.

Pakistan’s strongest playing XI for Asia Cup 2025

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammed Harris (wk..), Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammed Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem.