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Asia Cup 2025: We Pick Asia's Best T20I XI - One Player From Each Team
Follow UsWe have put together Asia’s Best T20I XI, but with a twist
The Asia Cup 2025 will get underway on September 9 in the UAE, featuring eight teams - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman.
The 20-over tournament will also serve as an early stepping stone on the road to the T20 World Cup 2026 for many of these sides.
India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, and will kick off their campaign against the UAE on September 10. Meanwhile, Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
In this piece, we’re putting together Asia’s Best T20I XI, but with a twist - every player must be an active international in this format, and we’ll include at least one representative from each of the eight participating nations.
Asia’s Best T20I XI
Muhammad Waseem (UAE)
Sanju Samson (WK - India)
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain - India)
Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)
Vinayak Shukla (Oman)
Hardik Pandya (India)
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Ehsan Khan (Hong Kong)
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
While we could have easily added more Indian stars such as Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Varun Chakravarthy, and Arshdeep Singh, the aim was to showcase talent from every Asia Cup 2025 side.
India’s Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah need little introduction as their T20 credentials are world-class. Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman remains one of the format’s most dangerous match-winners, while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan was an automatic pick as the premier T20 spinner.
From the UAE, Muhammad Waseem has been a run machine, scoring 2759 runs in 78 T20Is at an average of 37.79 and a blistering strike rate of 155.52. He partners Samson at the top of the order. Oman’s Vinayak Shukla has impressed in the middle-order since his debut earlier this year.
Hong Kong’s veteran off-spinner Ehsan Khan, with 127 wickets in 94 T20Is at an economy of just 6.26, will share spin duties with Rashid. From Bangladesh, left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman adds variety and guile to the pace attack.
The final middle-order spot goes to Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, a left-handed stroke-maker who can also chip in with the ball if required.