Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Schedule, Full Squad, Probable Playing11, and all you need to Know!

With each passing day, the ACC Asia Cup 2025 is nearing, and the buzz is intensifying. The Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format this year. In a significant move by PCB that has surprised many fans, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been omitted from the squad for the Asia Cup 2025. 

Head coach Mike Hesson explained that the decision was based on Babar’s strike rate in T20 cricket and his struggle against spin bowling. He made it clear that the management wants improvement in these areas before bringing him back into the setup. Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has also been dropped for similar reasons, showing that Pakistan is taking a fresh approach to its T20 strategy.

Babar has been one of Pakistan’s most consistent players in T20 cricket with 4,223 runs at an average of 39.83. But his strike rate of 129.22 has often been called slow for modern T20 standards. Hesson said that Babar is working hard to improve against spin and to increase his strike rate, but for now, the team has decided to move in a new direction.

 Pakistan are two-time champions, having lifted the trophy in 2000 and 2012, both in the ODI format. Since 2016, the Asia Cup has alternated between ODI and T20. India are the defending champion and have announced their squad as well. Pakistan are placed in Group A along with India, Oman, and UAE.

Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2025

Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. The same 17-member squad will also play the tri series in Sharjah against Afghanistan and the UAE from August 29 to September 7. Fakhar Zaman has returned after recovering from a hamstring injury and strengthens the batting order.

Pakistan full squad

• Salman Agha (captain)
  
• Abrar Ahmed
  
• Faheem Ashraf
  
• Fakhar Zaman
  
• Haris Rauf
  
• Hasan Ali
  
• Hasan Nawaz
  
• Hussain Talat
  
• Khushdil Shah
  
• Mohammad Haris (wk)
  
• Mohammad Nawaz
  
• Mohammad Wasim
  
• Sahibzada Farhan
  
• Saim Ayub
  
• Salman Mirza
  
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
  
• Sufyan Moqim
  
  

Probable Playing XI

1. Fakhar Zaman
   
2. Saim Ayub
   
3. Mohammad Haris (wk)
   
4. Sahibzada Farhan
   
5. Salman Ali Agha (c)
   
6. Khushdil Shah
   
7. Faheem Ashraf
   
8. Haris Rauf
   
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi
   
10. Hasan Ali
    
11. Abrar Ahmed
    
    

Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Schedule

• September 12 – Pakistan vs Oman – 7:30 PM – Dubai International Stadium
  
• September 14 – India vs Pakistan – 7:30 PM – Dubai International Stadium
  
• September 17 – Pakistan vs UAE – 7:30 PM – Dubai International Stadium
  
  

Fans are eagerly waiting for the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan on September 14. The two teams could also face each other again in the Super 4 and possibly the final if they qualify.