Pakistan on Sunday announced a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup and the upcoming T20 tri-nation series in the UAE, notably excluding former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. The Asia Cup will begin on September 9 in the UAE, followed by the tri-series against Afghanistan and UAE in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7.
Head coach Mike Hesson cited the need for improvements in Babar Azam’s game as the reason for his exclusion. Hesson highlighted that Babar was advised to work on facing spin bowling better and improving his strike rate. Babar will get an opportunity to refine these aspects in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Salman Ali Agha is named captain, with experienced pacers like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, and left-arm bowler Salman Mirza included. Despite recent losses in T20 and ODI series against Bangladesh and West Indies, Hesson expressed confidence in the current squad’s performance.
The full squad comprises Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Husain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saif Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem.
