Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey
Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup
Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan in T20Is since 2024 T20 World Cup
(Until UAE Tri-Series)
Matches played: 22
Matches won: 9
Matches lost: 13
RPO: 8.22
Top Performers (Until UAE Tri-Series)
Most runs since 2024 T20 WC
- Saim Ayub (LHB): 396 runs in 13 innings, AVG: 36, SR: 151.72
- Agha Salman (RHB): 380 runs in 18 innings, AVG: 27.14, SR: 115.85
- Hasan Nawaz (RHB): 339 runs in 14 innings, AVG: 28.25, SR: 175.64
- Mohammed Haris (RHB): 265 runs in 14 innings, AVG: 22.08, SR: 154.97
- Sahibzada Farhan (RHB): 255 runs in 10 innings, AVG: 25.50, SR: 137.09
Most wickets since 2024 T20 WC
- Abbas Afridi (RAP): 22 wickets in 13 innings, AVG: 13.40, ECO: 7.83
- Haris Rauf (RAP): 18 wickets in 15 innings, AVG: 24.27, ECO: 9.10
- Sufiyan Muqeem (Left-arm Wrist spin): 17 wickets in 10 innings, AVG: 11.17, ECO: 5.64
- Abrar Ahmed (Right-arm Wrist spin): 15 wickets in 11 innings, AVG: 21, ECO: 8.36
- Mohammed Nawaz (left-arm orthodox): 10 wickets in 6 innings, AVG: 10.10, ECO: 6.06
Squad Overview and Key Changes
By excluding Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, Pakistan Cricket Board’s selection reflects a clear intent to move away from conservative batting approaches.
Since 2020, Pakistan’s scoring rate in T20I cricket has been 128.81.
Babar last played a T20I in December 2024.
In PSL 2025, Babar scored 288 runs in ten innings for Peshawar Zalmi. It included knocks of 56*, 53* and 94 but his overall strike rate was 128.57.
Rizwan, like Babar, has not been part of Pakistan’s recent T20I squads for the home and subsequent away series against Bangladesh, followed by the T20Is in the West Indies.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar has been challenged with improving his T20 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,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“But at the moment, the players we have have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three Player of the Match awards. A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider.”
Salman Agha will lead the 17-member squad, which also participated in the tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan in the lead-up to the Asia Cup. Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of August, has recovered and is part of the side.
Shaheen Afridi, who had also found himself out of favour in T20 cricket of late, retained his place for the tri-series and the Asia Cup, though Naseem Shah missed out once again.
Abbas Afridi, Pakistan’s leading T20I wicket-taker since the 2024 T20 World Cup with 22 wickets, has surprisingly been left out. Though a little expensive, he was also the joint second-highest wicket-taker in PSL 2025 with 17 wickets.
The recent ODI series – which Pakistan lost 2-1 in the Caribbean – appears not to have influenced decision making either way. Hesson said he intended to stick to the aggressive top-heavy approach he has championed in the format and repeated that Pakistan’s game was suited to such a style.
Mike Hesson’s Vision
Since taking charge as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach in May 2025, Mike Hesson has articulated a comprehensive vision for transforming Pakistan cricket. His statements reveal a clear philosophy focused on modernising Pakistan’s approach while building sustainable success.
Fielding as Non-Negotiable
One of Hesson’s strongest emphases has been on elevating fielding standards. “Fielding is critical in white ball cricket; there’s no room for someone who can’t. You just can’t hide people in the field these days,” he said.
Multi-Skilled Players Over Specialists
Hesson has been vocal about modernising Pakistan’s team composition. “The idea of just specialist batters is very much outdated. You’ve got to be multi-skilled”. He wants players who can contribute in multiple facets: “You’ve got to be above par with the bat, and you’ve got to be below par with the ball and that’s the way we’ll be trying to operate.”
This philosophy was immediately visible in Pakistan’s series against Bangladesh, where they used eight bowlers in one match and seven in the others – a significant tactical shift.
Aggressive Intent and Strike Rates
Hesson has emphasised the need for aggressive batting approaches. “We need a run rate that puts us ahead of the game. T20 is all about setting the game up and being ahead of the game all the time”.
He’s critical of milestone-focused batting: “If we need 14 in an over, a single won’t help. Trying to bunt for a milestone means nothing if we lose by 20.”
Sustainable Development
Hesson has emphasised his medium-term commitment: “I don’t want to be here for six months, enjoy a few highs or survive a few lows, and then leave. For me, this is a medium-term project,” Hesson said.
His legacy focus is clear: “If when you leave, things fall over, then you haven’t done a great job. Focus is on building a sustainable model”.
Domestic Cricket Integration
He’s committed to talent identification: “There’ll be identified groups of players where I’ll be keen to go and have a look, talk, and meet players”. This systematic approach to domestic cricket monitoring represents a structural improvement.
Pakistan’s T20I Performance Under Mike Hesson
- Bangladesh in Pakistan (May-June 2025): Result: Pakistan won 3-0
- Pakistan in Bangladesh (July 2025): Result: Bangladesh 2-1. Pakistan’s away tour to Bangladesh proved challenging, resulting in Bangladesh’s first-ever T20I series win over Pakistan.
- Pakistan in West Indies (August 2025): Result: Pakistan won 2-1
In all six victories, Pakistan scored 175+, showing aggressive intent as Hesson demanded.
Predicted Starting XI
- Saim Ayub
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Fakhar Zaman
- Salman Agha (c)
- Hasan Nawaz
- Mohammad Haris (wk)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Afridi
- Haris Rauf
- Sufiyan Muqeem
Team Notes (Strengths & Weaknesses)
- LHB-RHB opening duo
- But both Ayub & Farhan have significantly lower strike rates (and also average lesser) against left-arm pace compared to right-arm pace in the Powerplay.
- However, they complement each other well against spin — Ayub destroys left-arm orthodox and leg-spin but struggles against off-spin, while Farhan has a strong record against off-spin yet tends to struggle against left-arm orthodox and leg-spin.
- Fakhar Zaman will act as the aggressor at No.3.
- He also has a strong record against all types of spin in the middle overs over the past couple of years.
- Interestingly, the skipper – Salman Ali Agha – who’s going to lead the aggressive brand of cricket, himself has a T20I SR of 115.85 after 18 innings, and is more of an ODI-style player, better suited to batting in the top order in T20s. Yet, he finds himself positioned in the middle order. The best approach would likely be to keep his batting position flexible rather than locking him in at No. 4.
- Hasan Nawaz has been a revelation, injecting fresh energy into the team.
- Struck at 175.64 across his T20I career so far.
- While his century came as an opener, he has batted across positions from the top to No. 6 and is expected to settle into a middle-order role in this tournament.
- With 28 sixes, he also finished as the leading six-hitter in this year’s PSL.
Alongside Mohammad Haris, another young, high-intent batter, Pakistan certainly have some genuine firepower in the lineup, a contradiction to what we’ve seen in the past. However, he’ll likely have to bat out of position, taking on a finisher’s role (a highly volatile player in a highly volatile role) in this team rather than his usual No.3 spot.
- If Ayub and Fakhar fall early, left-arm spin could tie them down in the middle overs — unless they push Khushdil/Nawaz up the order as a low-value hitter to target spin and prevent a slowdown.
- With Faheem and Nawaz following Mohammad Haris, Pakistan’s batting extends till No. 8, after which even Shaheen and Rauf can contribute with quick runs, providing sufficient depth.
- While Pakistan have ample depth, their lower middle order remains highly unpredictable.
- The volatility and explosiveness surrounding Salman Agha in the lineup may explain his role as the fulcrum around whom everyone else can play their part.
- Faheem is the only seam-bowling all-rounder in the squad and may share the new ball with Shaheen.
- Although expensive (ECO: 11.19), he was the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the PSL, claiming 17 wickets.
- Shaheen, Rauf, and Hasan Ali form an experienced pace trio, all bringing their own unique attributes and strengths.
- Shaheen was the highest wicket-taker in the PSL, with 19 scalps.
- Rauf and Hasan were the joint second-highest wicket-takers, each claiming 17 wickets. Hasan conceded at 9.03 RPO, while Rauf went at 10.28 RPO.
- Mohammad Wasim Jr. provides another reliable pace option, known for his reverse swing in the death overs.
- Salman Mirza serves as an additional top pace backup. He was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker with eight against Bangladesh in the away T20I series.
“Salman Mirza and Mohammad Wasim Jr. are probably the best death-over bowlers in Pakistan, especially with Wasim’s reverse in Dubai. We have created some depth and also added options.”
Mike Hesson
- In Abrar and Muqeem, Pakistan have two fine wrist-spinners, the latter being particularly effective recently, claiming his 21 T20I wickets at an economy of 5.74.
- They also have an in form left-arm spinner in Nawaz, the Player of the Series in West Indies, complemented by Agha and Ayub’s part-time off-spin, creating a complete and well-rounded spin unit.
- With Rauf’s decline, death bowling could be a concern for Pakistan, which might open the door for Wasim Jr. to find a place in the side.
Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign begins on September 12 when they take on Oman in Dubai.
