The Pakistan cricket team recently won their T20I series against the West Indies and will carry this growing confidence into the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in September. Both veterans, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have been sidelined from T20Is by the PCB. However, ahead of the squad selection for the Asia Cup 2025, rumours are swirling that one of them could make a return to the Pakistani squad. Below is a look at how Pakistan’s squad might shape up for the upcoming tournament.
Predicted Pakistan’s Squad for Asia Cup 2025
Player Name
Role
Reason for Selection
Saim Ayub
Opening Batter
Aggressive left-hander with consistent PSL/T20I performances; modern powerplay hitter
Technical opener with strong domestic and PSL numbers; right-left balance with Saim
Fakhar Zaman*
Opening Batter
Explosive veteran; selection likely if fully fit; excels in UAE conditions historically
Mohammad Haris (wk)
Wicketkeeper-Batter
Attacking middle-order option, proven T20 strike rate, agile with the gloves
Salman Agha (c)
Middle-order Batter, Captain
Solid technique, calm under pressure, led side post-2024 with maturity and performance
Hasan Nawaz
Middle-order Batter
Young power hitter; rising domestic star, seen as long-term finishing option
Mohammad Nawaz
All-rounder (Spin)
Experienced left-arm spinner, useful lower-order hitter; UAE tracks suit him
Faheem Ashraf
Bowling All-rounder (Pace)
Offers seam option and late-order hitting; experienced utility man in T20s
Hasan Ali
Fast Bowler
Veteran presence; contributes with energy, experience, and handy lower-order runs
Shaheen Afridi
Lead Fast Bowler
Premier strike bowler, leader of the pace attack; deadly with new ball
Sufiyan Muqeem
Left-arm Spinner
Emerging young spinner with variations; impressed in PSL, adds left-arm option
Haris Rauf
Fast Bowler
Death-overs specialist; among the fastest bowlers; key in middle/death overs
Khushdil Shah
Middle-order Batter/All-rounder
Big hitter, part-time left-arm spinner, adds depth and flexibility
Abrar Ahmed
Mystery Spinner
X-factor bowler; deceptive leg-spin, breakthroughs in middle overs
Hussain Talat
Batting All-rounder
Handy medium pace and middle-order batting; strong domestic T20 circuit form
* Fakhar Zaman was recently injured in the West Indies vs Pakistan T20I series. His participation in Asia Cup 2025 looks doubtful. If he does not make a fully recovery before the tournament then either Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan could be selected.