Pakistan has named a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the UAE T20 tri-series against Afghanistan and the hosts. The biggest surprise in the announcement is the omission of former captain Babar Azam, who has been a key figure in Pakistan’s batting for many years.
Head coach Mike Hesson explained that the squad was chosen with a focus on strike rate, impact, and flexibility rather than traditional anchor roles. He highlighted that players like Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman have been consistently making a difference by scoring quickly in the powerplay overs, giving Pakistan the kind of explosive starts needed in modern T20 cricket.
Babar Azam’s performance, particularly his strike rate in the middle overs and his batting against spin, has been under scrutiny. Hesson confirmed that Babar is working hard to improve these areas and emphasized that the star batter remains part of Pakistan’s future plans.
“This is not the end for Babar Azam,” Hesson said. “He has the opportunity to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) and show progress in the areas required. He is too good a player for us not to consider.”
Supporting the move, Aaqib Javed, Director of High Performance, said that national team selection must be based on current form, not past reputation. He added that leagues such as the PSL and BBL provide the perfect stage for players to prove themselves. According to him, competition is tough, and only those producing high-impact performances will retain a spot in the team.
For now, Pakistan will enter September’s tournaments with a squad built around aggressive intent and attacking cricket. Yet, the absence of Babar Azam continues to spark debate. At 30 years old, with multiple franchise offers on the table, Babar still has the chance to reshape his T20 career. The coming months will determine how quickly he can adapt his game to Pakistan’s new T20 philosophy.
READ MORE: Pakistan Announces Squad for Asia Cup 2025 and UAE Tri-Series
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