The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the national team squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 tri-nation series in the second week of August, according to reliable sources on Tuesday.
No Major Changes Expected in the Squad
Sources say that the PCB is likely to stick with the same group of core players who recently played in the series against Bangladesh and West Indies. The selectors are not planning any major changes, showing confidence in the current combination. Players who have consistently performed well are expected to keep their spots.
Fakhar Zaman’s Participation in Doubt
There is, however, some uncertainty around Fakhar Zaman’s availability for the tri-nation series. The left-handed opener suffered a hamstring injury during the T20I series against the West Indies, which ruled him out of both the T20I and ODI matches.
Following the injury, PCB officials instructed Fakhar to leave the tour early and return to Pakistan. He was told to report directly to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore for medical treatment and rehabilitation. His participation in the upcoming matches will depend on how quickly he recovers.
Tri-Nation Series Schedule Announced
Earlier this week, the PCB released the official schedule for the T20I tri-nation series, which includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The series will be held in the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE, from August 29 to September 7.
This short tournament is seen as a key preparation event for all three teams before they enter the bigger challenge of the Asia Cup 2025, which will also take place in the UAE starting from September 9 to 28.
The tri-series will begin on Friday, August 29, with Pakistan facing Afghanistan in the opening match. All matches in this tournament will start at 7:00 PM local time.
Each team will play against the other two times, meaning every side will get four group-stage matches. The top two teams will then move on to the final, which is scheduled for September 7.
Asia Cup 2025: Groups and Key Matches
The Asia Cup 2025 will officially begin on September 9, with a Group B match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
A total of eight teams are taking part in the tournament. The teams have been split into two groups:
- Group A: Pakistan, India, UAE, and Oman
- Group B: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong
Pakistan’s Group Stage Matches:
- September 12 – Pakistan vs Oman
- September 14 – Pakistan vs India (highly anticipated match)
- September 17 – Pakistan vs UAE
These matches will decide which teams qualify for the Super Four stage, where the top two teams from each group will compete in a round-robin format before the final match.
Complete Schedule for the Tri-Nation Series (All Matches in Sharjah, 7 PM local time)
- August 29 – Afghanistan vs Pakistan
- August 30 – UAE vs Pakistan
- September 1 – UAE vs Afghanistan
- September 2 – Pakistan vs Afghanistan
- September 4 – Pakistan vs UAE
- September 5 – Afghanistan vs UAE
- September 7 – Final (Top 2 Teams)
Full Match Schedule – ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025
Group Stage:
- September 9 – Afghanistan vs Hong Kong
- September 10 – India vs UAE
- September 11 – Bangladesh vs Hong Kong
- September 12 – Pakistan vs Oman
- September 13 – Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
- September 14 – India vs Pakistan
- September 15 – UAE vs Oman
- September 15 – Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong
- September 16 – Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
- September 17 – Pakistan vs UAE
- September 18 – Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan
- September 19 – India vs Oman
Super Four Stage:
- September 20 – B1 vs B2
- September 21 – A1 vs A2
- September 23 – A2 vs B1
- September 24 – A1 vs B2
- September 25 – A2 vs B2
- September 26 – A1 vs B1
Final:
- September 28 – Asia Cup Final
This season is going to be an exciting one for cricket fans, especially with the intense schedule ahead for Pakistan. All eyes will be on the team announcement in mid-August and on whether Fakhar Zaman can return in time to strengthen the squad. The tri-series and Asia Cup will not only test the team’s strength but also set the tone for the upcoming international cricket season.
READ MORE: Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim Signed by Northern Superchargers for The Hundred 2025
Comments (0)
WeGreen is a space for respectful and thoughtful discussion. Harassment, hate speech, personal attacks, and inappropriate language are not allowed and may result in content removal or account action. Please keep things kind and civil.
Please login to post a comment