Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad has shocked everyone with five decisions. Why were Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan dropped from the team? The Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2025 has been finalized. The squad has been announced, but it raises some questions: Why were two big, impactful players removed from the team? I’ll discuss that further, but first, let’s quickly go through Pakistan’s squad.
Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad
Salman Ali Agha is the captain. The squad includes Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem. These are the players who will represent Pakistan and showcase their skills in Asia Cup 2025.
However, the question is: Does this team have the strength to compete with these players? Based on their performances, it doesn’t seem so. Here, we delve into the critical decisions and their implications.
Babar Azam’s Omission: A Puzzling Decision
Now, let’s talk about Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and discuss their T20 stats. First, Babar Azam: He has played 128 T20 matches and scored 4,223 runs at an average of around 40 and a strike rate of about 130. He has also scored three centuries in the T20 format. One thing is unclear: By dropping Babar Azam, who is the ‘Dabar Azam’ you’ve brought into the team? Which player has scored tons of runs for Pakistan in the last year to justify this decision? At least with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the team looked like a proper unit.
Lack of Depth in Pakistan’s Setup
Pakistan isn’t like India, where if Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli leave, players like Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, or Shreyas Iyer are ready to step up. Pakistan doesn’t have that kind of depth. You’ve dropped Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, but have you prepared the next generation of players? Have you groomed future stars?
Salman Ali Agha’s Captaincy: Justified or Not?
What kind of captain is Salman Ali Agha? What performance has he delivered to earn the captaincy?
Mohammad Rizwan’s Exclusion: A Missed Opportunity
Now, let’s talk about Mohammad Rizwan’s performance. In 106 T20 matches, he has scored 3,414 runs at an average of over 47 and a strike rate of around 126. He has also scored one century. His average is solid, and he contributes as a wicketkeeper as well. Despite this, Mohammad Rizwan has been consistently left out of the T20 squad, sidelined repeatedly. I believe that with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s team looks like a proper team. Without them, it feels like a bunch of neighborhood kids playing cricket. They don’t have the same strength as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Repeated Selection: Influence or Merit?
Why is Shaheen Shah Afridi repeatedly selected? I’d like to know more about this because he’s Shahid Afridi’s son-in-law, and Shahid Afridi seems to have significant influence in the Pakistan Cricket Board and government circles these days. So, is that why Shaheen Shah Afridi is being favored? When was the last time he delivered a remarkable performance? When did he bowl a devastating spell? When did he trouble opposition batters? These are big questions that the Pakistan Cricket Board needs to answer.
Naseem Shah’s Absence: What’s Going On?
And what’s going on with Naseem Shah? At one point, he was Pakistan’s fierce, outstanding bowler who troubled even the biggest batters. But today, Naseem Shah isn’t part of the Pakistan team either, and he seems to have faded away. If he’s injured, why isn’t he recovering? There are significant questions about this.
Predictions for Asia Cup 2025
So, the Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2025 has been announced, and I’m telling you, forget India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Afghanistan—even against UAE or Oman, this team will likely face defeat. In my opinion, with the kind of poor team Pakistan has selected, their exit is certain in the first round.
What are your thoughts on Pakistan’s squad selection? Let us know in the comments.
