The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a bombshell step by including both their veteran players, Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, in the 17-member squad of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Neither batter will be part of the tri-series in Sharjah against the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan as preparation for the event.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the 17-member squad of Pakistan as their aggressive opening batter. Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the West Indies and didn’t participate in the final game of the three-match T20I series, has recovered to return to the squad. Babar’s last T20I came in December 2024.

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During the recent season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the former captain had scores of 56*, 53*, and 94 across his last seven fixtures for the Peshawar Zalmi. During the three-match ODI series in the Caribbean, he returned with just 56 runs with the best score of 47. This has been the same case with the 50-over captain, Mohammed Rizwan, who didn’t feature in the T20I series at home and away against Bangladesh.

No Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan in Pakistan’s Tri-series squad and Asia Cup 2025

The Green Brigade is placed in Group A alongside India, Oman, and the UAE. They will begin their campaign on September 12 against Oman, followed by the highly anticipated clash over the Blue Brigade on September 14 at the same venue. All the games of the tri-series will take place in Sharjah, which will not host a single game of the Asia Cup 2025.

Apart from Babar and Rizwan, Naseem Shah is also not part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Hasan Ali has returned to his place with leg-spinner, Abrar Ahmed, with no place for the veteran spin all-rounder, Shadab Khan. Mohammed Haris is expected to be wearing the wicket-keeping gloves.

Pakistan’s tri-series and Asia Cup 2025 squad

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.