Pakistan have announced their squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the tri-nation series in the UAE featuring Afghanistan and the hosts. In a major development, senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out of the T20I squad — marking a continued absence from the shortest format this year.
Babar Azam Told to Improve T20 Strike Rate, Especially Against Spin
Head coach Mike Hesson shed light on Babar’s exclusion, revealing that the right-hander has been asked to work specifically on his strike rate, particularly against spin bowling. Babar has maintained a strike rate of 128 across all T20s this year, which drops to 125 against spin. His struggles were evident in last year’s T20 World Cup, where he managed a strike rate of just 101.67.
“There’s no doubt Babar has been asked to improve in some areas, particularly against spin and in terms of his strike-rate. Those are aspects I know he’s working very hard on at the moment,” Hesson told Geo Super.
Despite the snub, Hesson was clear that Babar still remains in future plans and is “too good of a player” to be ignored long-term. Babar will have a chance to prove his worth in the Big Bash League (BBL) later this year, where he’ll represent the Sydney Sixers.
“A player like Babar also has the opportunity to play in the BBL and showcase improvements in those areas of T20 cricket. He’s simply too good of a player for us not to consider,” the coach added.
Rising Stars Rewarded for Impactful Performances
The squad announcement also reflects Pakistan’s commitment to backing in-form players. Hesson praised the current top-order batters, particularly Sahibzada Farhan, who played a pivotal role in the recent series win over the West Indies. Farhan earned three Player of the Match awards in just six games, including in the series decider.
“You want players who, when they score runs, have a huge impact on the outcome of the game—and that’s exactly what we ask from Saim and Fakhar as well,” Hesson stated, highlighting the aggressive approach of the current lineup.
Pakistan will kick off their campaign with a tri-series in Sharjah, beginning August 29, against Afghanistan and the UAE. This series is seen as ideal preparation ahead of the Asia Cup, especially given the spin-friendly conditions expected in Sharjah.
“In the Asia Cup, we are going to face some of the best spin-bowling sides, and this will be a great opportunity ahead of the T20 World Cup. Playing in Sharjah will be a real challenge against spin, and that’s why our middle order is so critical,” Hesson concluded.
