By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan on Sunday announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and a tri-nation T20I series involving the UAE and Afghanistan.
The tri-series, to be hosted in the UAE, will serve as a prelude to the continental tournament, which begins on September 9.
As has been the case in recent series, star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have once again been left out of the squad.
Promising pacer Mohammad Wasim Junior makes his return. He last played for Pakistan on January 19, 2024, against New Zealand in Christchurch. Speedster Salman Mirza has also been included, rewarded for his impressive performance in the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, which Pakistan lost 2-1 in Dhaka.
Experienced left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman is back in the side after recovering from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the recent ODI series against the West Indies.
Head coach Mike Hesson expressed satisfaction with the development of the current T20 squad.
“From a T20 perspective, we’ve won six of our last nine games. One was lost off the final ball and one was a heavy defeat. This side is progressing nicely. The ODI format is another matter and will be addressed separately. We’ve been providing opportunities to a number of players, and someone like Salman Mirza earned his place through strong performances in Bangladesh,” Hesson said at a press conference.
He emphasized the importance of rotation: “If we keep playing the same team over and over, we won’t build depth. It’s always a delicate balance between trying to win every single game and developing a squad.”
When asked about Babar Azam’s omission and whether it reflects a lack of confidence, Hesson was firm in his support of the former captain.
“It’s unfair to question a player solely based on form. Babar played well in the first ODI but missed out in the next two. Yes, we’ve asked him to improve aspects of his game, like his strike rate against spin, but players currently in the T20 side are performing exceptionally. Sahibzada Farhan, for example, has won three Player of the Match awards in his last six games. Players who are in form and scoring runs make a tangible impact,” he said.
“Babar still has the chance to feature in the Big Bash League and work on his game. He’s too good a player to be ignored in the long term.”
Hesson also highlighted the team’s adaptability across different conditions.
“In Lahore, we had flat pitches and our batters excelled. In Bangladesh, the conditions were more challenging with low-scoring games. Our lower order stepped up when early wickets fell, showing good depth. Against the West Indies, we posted 140 in the third T20I with a strong opening partnership. This lineup has the potential to continue performing.”
Meanwhile, selector and Director of High Performance Aqib Javed said the best available squad has been selected.
“We have maintained player continuity over the past three seasons. I’m very encouraged by the way the team is shaping up. Hasan Nawaz is performing brilliantly, Saim is showing promise, and Sahibzada Farhan is in great form. I’m confident we’re building a solid core ahead of the World Cup,” Aqib said.
Asked whether Babar and Rizwan were no longer part of T20I plans, Aqib clarified: “It’s not that we’ve written them off. But right now, we have strong alternatives for the T20 format. New talents like Yasir, Naeem, and Nafay are also emerging, which is a very positive sign.”
He expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to take on any opponent, including India.
“The Pakistan-India clash in the Asia Cup will be a major game, but we shouldn’t put extra pressure on the players. This 17-member squad has the talent to beat any team,” Aqib said.
He also defended the inclusion of Mohammad Haris, saying the wicket-keeper has performed well and his stats back his selection.
Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Junior, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.
