Asia Cup: Did strike rate cost Babar a place in the Pakistan team?

It has been nothing short of a bombshell for Pakistan fans as the green shirts will be playing in Asia Cup in the UAE next month without two of their former white ball captains – Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan. Both have been dropped from a new look 17-member squad named on Sunday with batter Salman Ali Agha set to lead the side in the continental event as well as an upcoming T20I tri-series in Sharjah.

 The announcement of the squad ushers in the build-up to the chequered Asia Cup, where they will be taking on a full strength India in a high voltage league game on 9 September in Dubai. They are likely to face off in a Super Four stage too along chances of a third clash in the final.

  The absence of both Babar and Rizwan, both proven customers against India in the past, tilts the scales in favour of Surya Kumar Yadav & Co as the BCCI are set to name their squad on Tuesday. India are the defending champions of the last edition, held in 2023 in ODI format.

Asia Cup 2025: India's decision to play ball with Pakistan sparks political row

Explaining the omission of the Big Two from Pakistan line-up, Mike Hesson – their white ball coach – took a dig at Babar’s strike rate. ‘’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.

“A player like Babar also has the opportunity to play in the BBL (Big Bash League) and showcase improvements in those areas of T20 cricket. He’s simply too good a player for us not to consider,” the New Zealander, a regular face in IPL, said in the press conference. Pakistan’s recent run in white ball format had been dismal to say the least – with a weakened West Indies edging past them in both T20I and ODI series by identical 2-1 margins.  

 Pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi and his strike partner Haris Rauf, experienced batter Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah are the only senior players who earned the selectors’ trust for the upcoming challenges. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris has also retained his spot.

Mike Hesson, Pakistan white ball coachA player like Babar also has the opportunity to play in the BBL (Big Bash League) and showcase improvements in those areas of T20 cricket. He’s simply too good a player for us not to consider

The selectors have also shown faith in young names like Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim for the upcoming T20I Tri-Series, starting on 29 August at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium – a prelude to the Asia Cup.

 The eight-team Asia Cup T20I tournament will be staged in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from 9 to 28 September. Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside India, Oman and UAE. Former champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong are clubbed in Group B.

Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (C), Mohammad Haris (WK), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr., Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Saim Ayub, and Salman Mirza.