Pakistan’s cricket board shocked everyone by picking a 17-member team for the Asia Cup 2025. Two famous players, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, were not included.
This is the first time in a long time that neither player will be in a big tournament for Pakistan. A young group was picked, and Salman Ali Agha is in charge.
Wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris stepped in for Rizwan, and lots of new or less experienced players are getting ready to show what they can do. The decision shows a big shift to exciting, daring cricket, highlighting players who score runs fast.
Coach Mike Hesson said that Babar and Rizwan are still in the team’s future plans but need to work on some issues, especially their struggle with spin and slower scoring rates that don’t fit today’s T20 game. The Asia Cup is from September 9 to 28 in the UAE. Pakistan is with India, Oman, and the UAE in a group.
[REPORT] Pakistan’s Shock: Babar & Rizwan Omitted
As soon as the press release was out, people on social media were shocked. Pakistan’s cricket fans have always seen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as strong supporters, so seeing both names gone felt like a big shock, like a wall falling down suddenly.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that neither player has played in T20 Internationals since December 2024, as they were not chosen for the recent series against Bangladesh and the West Indies. The 17-player team has Salman Ali Agha as the captain.
Mohammad Haris will be the wicketkeeper, and Fakhar Zaman is back after his hamstring injury. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi leads a group of quick bowlers that also has Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, and young left-arm bowler Salman Mirza.
The group in charge, led by Aaqib Javed, kept all 15 players who won against the West Indies 2‑1 not long ago. Pakistan will get ready for the Asia Cup with a three-team series against Afghanistan and the UAE from 29 August to 7 September.
[UPDATE] New Captain & Fresh Faces
Under the desert sun, the Pakistan team will look strikingly different. Captain Salman Ali Agha, who only cemented his place last year, will marshal a blend of familiar names and rookies.
Shaheen Afridi remains the pace spearhead, but his colleagues include uncapped left‑arm seamer Salman Mirza and versatile all‑rounder Mohammad Wasim. Batting responsibility rests with Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan and rising star Saim Ayub – the latter boasting a T20 strike rate of 137.95, far higher than Babar or Rizwan.
Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf provide spin‑all‑round options. A concise overview of the squad is shown below:
| Player | Role |
| Salman Ali Agha (c) | batting all‑rounder |
| Abrar Ahmed | leg‑spinner |
| Faheem Ashraf | seam‑bowling all‑rounder |
| Fakhar Zaman | left‑handed opener |
| Haris Rauf | fast bowler |
| Hasan Ali | fast bowler |
| Hasan Nawaz | middle‑order batter |
| Hussain Talat | all‑rounder |
| Khushdil Shah | batter |
| Mohammad Haris (wk) | wicket‑keeper |
| Mohammad Nawaz | spin‑all‑rounder |
| Mohammad Wasim Jnr | fast bowler |
| Sahibzada Farhan | batter |
| Saim Ayub | opener |
| Salman Mirza | left‑arm seamer |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | fast bowler |
| Sufyan Moqim | spinner |
Pakistan’s Asia Cup fixtures underline the challenge ahead. They open against Oman on 12 September, face arch‑rivals India two days later, and complete group play against the UAE on 17 September.
A successful group stage could see them reach the Super Fours from 20 September, culminating in the final on 28 September.
[TRENDING] Why the Stars Were Axed: Changing T20 Approach
There is a bigger change in thinking behind what is not said in the headlines. Since 2022, Rizwan’s T20I strike rate is 122.26 and Babar’s is 127.34, which are among the lowest for openers from Test nations.
The PCB wants to change how people see its T20 batting as “safe.” It is now focusing on a bold style of play that relies on hitting hard.
Coach Mike Hesson said that Babar was told to improve his skills against spin and to speed up his scoring. Hesson said that Babar will play for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League to improve his skills and is “too good a player” to be overlooked in the future.
The coach said that players like Sahibzada Farhan, who has won three Player of the Match awards in six games, and Saim Ayub should get more chances to play.
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez shared this thought, saying it wouldn’t be right to call Babar and Rizwan “key players” when others like Salman Ali Agha and Hasan Nawaz have been winning games.
Hafeez, always straightforward, said that the strike-rate numbers show why Pakistan needs more exciting openers.
[WHAT’S HAPPENING] Reaction & Implications
People’s responses to the choice have been as different as items in a market. Some fans think the missing parts are wrong, while others like the new change.
Hesson went on X
We’ve put together what we believe is a highly competitive squad following the recent T20I series. Excited to see some fresh faces stepping up alongside our experienced senior players. A great blend of energy & experience for the Tri-Nation series & Asia Cup.
Our squad features…— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) August 17, 2025
to say he was “Happy to see new players joining our skilled senior players,” pointing out the mix of young and experienced players in the team. Aaqib Javed, the chief selector, said this team “can beat India,” showing how important the game on September 14 is.
Pakistan’s leaders also pointed out the bowling mix: five fast bowlers and two exciting “mystery spinners” perfect for the UAE weather. But, not including things can be risky.
Babar not being there takes away a steady player for Pakistan, and Rizwan’s skills with the gloves and finishing games have been very important in earlier tournaments. India is beating big teams, and Sri Lanka wants to protect their title.
Pakistan’s new team must work well together fast. The series with Afghanistan and the UAE is a practice run, but the Asia Cup will really show how well the PCB’s bold plan works.
Writer’s Take
Not having Pakistan’s two best batsmen feels like seeing a good captain let a new person take control of the ship in a storm. It takes bravery, maybe even boldness, to let go of players like that.
The PCB has chosen a bold way, shaking things up to follow new T20 trends. We will see if this risk brings good things or bad things when the desert lights shine in September.
Cricket fans will find this Asia Cup very interesting, as Pakistan’s new team makes its own mark.
FAQ’s
- Why were Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan left out of Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad?
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were omitted due to their relatively low T20 strike rates and struggles against spin, which clashed with Pakistan’s new aggressive T20 approach. Coach Mike Hesson emphasized that they remain in future plans but must adapt their game. - Who is leading the Pakistan team for the Asia Cup 2025?
All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will captain the side, leading a younger squad built around attacking cricket. - Who replaced Mohammad Rizwan as wicket-keeper?
Mohammad Haris takes over wicket-keeping duties, bringing his dynamic batting and fresh energy behind the stumps. - Are Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan completely dropped from the team?
No. Both remain in Pakistan’s long-term plans. Their exclusion is temporary, with the coaching staff expecting improvements in strike rate and adaptability before they return. - What are the key fixtures for Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025?
Pakistan faces Oman on September 12, arch-rivals India on September 14, and the UAE on September 17. Progression could see them in the Super Fours (Sept 20–26) and the final on September 28.
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