Pakistan’s selectors have unveiled a trimmed, sharply focused 17-player roster for the impending T20 Asia Cup, with Salman Agha captaining the XI that will embark on a warm-up tri-series against the hosts and Afghanistan this coming week in the UAE.
Captaincy and Squad Overview
The most prominent absentees are the erstwhile white-ball captain Babar Azam and dependable gloves man Mohammad Rizwan, a decision that deepens the selectors’ pre-World Cup search for explosive and adaptable batting combinations. Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman, sidelined since earlier this month with a hamstring strain, has been declared fit and slots straight back into the XI.
Big Names Left Out
Babar has not appeared in a T20 International since December 2024. In this season’s PSL, he registered 288 runs for Peshawar Zalmi, boasting three fifties, yet a strike-rate barely above 128 was deemed insufficient. He carried that tentative rhythm into the recent ODI series against West Indies, failing to significantly press on after decent starts. Rizwan, whose ODI fifty in the series opener suggested a revival, could not convert starts into convictions, prompting the selectors to search for greater dynamism at the crease. Head coach Mike Hesson spelled out that Babar has been directed to elevate his strike-rate and better negotiate spin. Hesson insisted the 29-year-old batsman, “is too talented to rule out permanently, but at the present moment the players in rhythm have earned their shots.” He cited Sahibzada Farhan’s three Player-of-the-Match awards in six outings as proof of the refreshed and ruthlessly competitive selection environment.
Babar and Rizwan’s Recent Form
Shaheen Afridi makes his comeback into the T20 squad, bringing with him the experience and flair that the side has often relied on. On the flip side, Naseem Shah misses another selection as he stays committed to his CPL duties, opting for the high-octane challenge in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, there’s a fresh face in the pace pack: Salman Mirza, the crafty right-armer, gets his first T20 assignment with the national side after a sparkling run in the domestic leagues.