Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan AXED As Pakistan Announce Squad For Asia Cup

Pakistan have announced their squad for the Asia Cup T20 starting next month, and veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have once again been left out. Neither Babar nor Rizwan have played a T20I in 2025 but still a few expected the pair to slot back in in time for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup 2026 buildup, given their experience. However, in what’s the clearest indication yet that their T20I careers are over, the pair have been axed.

The squad named by Pakistan for both the Asia Cup and the Tri-series against Afghanistan and UAE includes everyone who featured in the 2-1 series win over West Indies earlier this month, and also two players who were not part of that series: pacers Mohammad Waseem Jnr and Salman Mirza. 

Mirza, notably, impressed in the T20Is against Bangladesh last month where he debuted, in which he took 7 wickets in 3 games at an economy of 5.21 and average of 8.71. 

The 17-person squad named by Pakistan will be led by Salman Ali Agha.

Pakistan squad for tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

Pakistan Probable 11 For Asia Cup & Tri-series

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem

The tri-series between Pakistan, Afghanistan and UAE will be played from August 29 to September 7, entirely in Sharjah.

For the Asia Cup, Pakistan have been drawn in the same group as India, UAE and Oman. The all-important clash against India will be played on September 14 in Dubai.