Neighbours and arch-rivals name Asia Cup squad without Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan; chief selector Aaqib Javed insists new-look team have the firepower to beat Suryakumar Yadav’s defending champs at continental contest in UAE
Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha (right) celebrates after winning the third T20I against West Indies to seal the three-match series 2-1 in Lauderhill, Florida, earlier this month. PIC/AFP
Pakistan on Sunday left out seasoned batters Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan while announcing their 17-member squad for the Asia Cup and the preceding tri-series in the UAE later this month. Babar and Rizwan, who helped Pakistan to their first-ever win over India in an ICC tournament in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, have been away from the format for a while. Both last featured in the shortest format in December 2024.
Placed in Group ‘A’
Pakistan are placed alongside arch-rivals India in Group ‘A’, which also features the UAE and Oman, in the eight-team Asia Cup tournament that will conclude on September 28. In the lead-up to the Asia Cup, which will be played in T20 format in the UAE from September 9, the Salman Ali Agha-led side will play a tri-series against Afghanistan and hosts UAE at Sharjah from August 29 to September 7.
Aaqib Javed
The axing of Babar and Rizwan has made headlines, but Pakistan chief selector Aaqib Javed backed the new-look team, insisting the Men in Green are more than capable of beating arch-rivals India without their star batters.
“This team have the ability to beat India in the Asia Cup. Whether you like it or not, the match between India and Pakistan is the biggest in world cricket. Every player knows this,” the former right-arm pacer, who claimed 54 wickets in 22 Tests for Pakistan, told reporters during a media interaction while announcing the squad on Sunday.
“Our squad can beat any team. Everyone is ready. Everyone knows the situation surrounding the two countries. But we don’t need to put extra pressure on them,” he added.
‘Babar told to improve’
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar has been asked to improve certain aspects of his game. “There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate. Those are things he’s working really hard on. A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL [Big Bash League] and show he’s improving in those areas.” The squad features senior fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammed Wasim and left-arm bowler Salman Mirza.
Suryakumar Yadav during the T20I World Cup match vs Pakistan in New York last year. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
Last five Indo-Pak Asia Cup games
ODI : India won by 228 runs
ODI: No result
T20I: Pakistan won by five wickets
T20I: India won by five wickets
ODI: India won by nine wickets
Pakistan squad
S Agha (captain), A Ahmed, F Ashraf, F Zaman, H Rauf, H Ali, H Nawaz, H Talat, K Shah, M Haris (wk), M Nawaz, M Waseem Jr, S Farhan, S Ayub, S Mirza, S Afridi, S Moqim
19
No of Asia Cup matches India and Pakistan have played against each other. India have won 10 and Pakistan six, while three games were washed out
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