Pakistan's Bold Move: Excluding Star Batters for Asia Cup

Pakistan has announced its 17-member squad for the Asia Cup and a preceding tri-series, notably excluding seasoned batters Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan. The squad will face Afghanistan and UAE in Sharjah from August 29. Meanwhile, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson emphasizes Babar's ongoing efforts to improve.

Devdiscourse News Desk | Lahore | Updated: 17-08-2025 16:40 IST | Created: 17-08-2025 16:40 IST

Pakistan's Bold Move: Excluding Star Batters for Asia Cup — This image is AI-generated and does not depict any real-life event or location. It is a fictional representation created for illustrative purposes only.

Country:
Pakistan

In a surprising move, Pakistan has omitted seasoned batters Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan from their 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and a preceding tri-series set to take place in the UAE later this month.

Babar and Rizwan, instrumental in Pakistan's ICC tournament victory in the 2021 T20 World Cup, have not appeared in T20 matches since December 2024. Head coach Mike Hesson clarified that Babar has been tasked with honing specific skills, particularly against spin.

The tri-series against Afghanistan and the hosts UAE will serve as a precursor to the Asia Cup, beginning from August 29. Despite recent losses, coach Hesson remains confident in the current squad's capabilities, highlighting the exceptional performances of players like Sahibzada Farhan.

(With inputs from agencies.)