Pakistan has named a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE.
Salman Agha to lead 17-man squad, which also excludes fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi
Pakistan’s T20I squad has once again excluded former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 17-player team. They will compete in the Asia Cup and a tri-nation series in the United Arab Emirates.
squad for Asia Cup & tri-series
Key players on Pakistan’s 17-man team include Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman. Fakhar has recovered from a leg injury he got in the Caribbean. In next year’s competitions, up-and-coming players like Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, and Muhammad Haris will also try to leave their imprint.
The squad includes Salman, Fakhar Zaman—who has recovered from a hamstring injury—Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, and Faheem Ashraf. Emerging talents Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Haris will also seek to make an impact in the upcoming competitions.
Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam
As a result, senior players like Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were left off of the Asia Cup roster. In December 2024, both players made their final appearance in the format in South Africa.
Babar Azam last played a T20I in December 2024. In PSL 2025, Babar scored 288 runs in ten innings for Peshawar Zalmi. It included knocks of 56*, 53*, and 94, but his overall strike rate was 128.57. He was part of the recent ODI series against the West Indies, where he scored 47, 0, and 9.
Pakistan will first feature in a tri-series with the UAE and Afghanistan between August 29 and September 7.
The team will then compete in the Asia Cup, a tournament featuring eight teams, from September 9 to 28. Pakistan is grouped with Oman, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan squad Asia Cup and Tri-series
(captain) Salman Ali Agha
(wk) Mohammad Haris
Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.
So far, Pakistan have featured in the continental tournament on 15 occasions. They’ve won it twice, under Moin Khan’s captaincy in 2000 and in Mishabh-ul-Haq’s leadership in 2012.
Tri-series schedule UAE v Pakistan v Afghanistan
(All matches to be played in Sharjah)
29 August – Afghanistan vs Pakistan
30 August – UAE vs Pakistan
1 September – UAE vs Afghanistan
2 September – Pakistan vs Afghanistan
4 September – Pakistan vs UAE
5 September – Afghanistan vs UAE
7 September – Final
Asia Cup schedule
Pakistan’s group fixtures in the Asia Cup:
12 September – Oman vs Pakistan, Dubai
14 September – India vs Pakistan, Dubai
17 September – UAE vs Pakistan, Dubai
Super Fours Asia Cup
20-26 September in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Final Asia Cup
28 September in Dubai