Why Mohammad Haris may not fit into Pakistan’s playing XI for Asia Cup 2025?

Mohammad Haris has always been multi-faceted as a top-order batter, primarily batting in positions 1 to 3 in nearly three-quarters of his T20I innings. In this role, his calculated aggression and building up an innings suited him. However, the way Pakistan has gone into the Asia Cup has depended on a settled top three consisting most likely of Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Fakhar Zaman. Thus, Haris can no longer be in that position. The result? He has played in positions he has never played in, such as 4 or lower when the demands will be different from a top-order position. Therefore, both Pakistan's management and Haris himself exposed where he is only capable at the top.

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As a top-order batter, he averages in the late teens at a strike rate above 140 with a hundred evidence that he can start and allow for a big acceleration. But as a top middle order or lower-order, his average is a pitiful late teens and below with a below-average strike rate that effectively disallows him as a real threat in shorter formats. When given the responsibility of opening, at least in the middle overs and death overs, he has a significant issue with timing or intensity and has demonstrated he does not have the ability to altered his game when conditions or overs available to him vary, the sort of flaw that could be detrimental given primarily only three overs or four in a middle overs situation.The issue is straightforward - Haris is a specialist in a role, and if moved from there, he is a long-term risk. For the Asia Cup in a tournament like this, having clarification in roles is crucial, and the risks that comes with his uncertainty mid-order is too much.

The Case for Alternative Lower-Order Options

In light of Haris's difficulties, Pakistan should be exploring other options that may fit the profile of a middle- and lower-order batsman better. One of the strongest options is Khushdil Shah. He has comfortably batted at No. 5 to No. 7 across both T20I series this year, effecting over 500 T20I runs in 2025, averaging above 30 with a strike rate near 147. Khushdil has shown he can shift the gears of innings when required, whether that be quickly at the start or accelerating in the mid or late stages. Khushdil also has additional value as a left-arm spin option, a useful tool on UAE pitches, which often seek out more subtle variations. Given that there is expected to be some emphasis on using slow, spin- friendly surfaces within a tournament strategy, Khushdil's added versatility may afford Pakistan some critical flexibility.

Also, wicketkeeper-batter Sahibzada Farhan could provide a way of managing roles. Farhan has consistently kept wicket across both previous matches, and could combine the role with warming-up in one dual-role for the team plan and to benefit from everyone else. Farhan's selection would also provide the squad with rotational capacity, but also have depth in both disciplines, keeping and batting. Although a balanced, reliable, all-round side is preferred, and if pakistan put a plan in place which contains Khushdil or Farhan to situational adjust and others accordingly, then it is obviously better to rely on them instead of forced-fitted Haris where he has had no experience and success to date.