Pakistan’s T20I squad announced with surprising omissions and questionable selections

Asher Butt

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday unveiled a 17-member squad for two upcoming assignments – the UAE T20I Tri-Series (August 29 to September 7) and the Asia Cup 2025 (September 9 to 28). While the announcement carried the usual excitement, it also triggered debates, with several glaring omissions and eyebrow-raising inclusions sparking concerns about Pakistan’s approach ahead of two major tournaments.

Major stars left out

The biggest talking point is the absence of four established names: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah.

• Babar Azam, often hailed as Pakistan’s batting linchpin, has been dropped in what appears to be a decision driven more by politics than performance. His exclusion leaves a massive void in Pakistan’s top order.

• Mohammad Rizwan, despite his reputation as one of the most consistent T20 performers globally, has been sidelined. Interestingly, he remains ODI captain, indicating a possible format-specific strategy.

• Shadab Khan misses out due to a shoulder injury, a significant blow given his dual role as a leg-spinner and reliable lower-order batsman.

• Naseem Shah, the young pace spearhead, is another surprise absentee, raising questions about the selectors’ priorities.

Key inclusions and surprises

The squad is a mix of familiar names, recalls, and experiments.

• Salman Ali Agha retains the captaincy after leading Pakistan to a 2-1 T20I series victory over the West Indies earlier this year. His leadership, coupled with his batting and part-time spin, makes him a central figure.

• Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf return to anchor the pace attack, while Mohammad Wasim Jr. has been rewarded for his domestic form. However, the recall of Hesson Ali – despite inconsistent recent performances – is questionable.

• The batting unit welcomes back Fakhar Zaman, whose inclusion seems to hinge more on past glories than current form. Alongside him, Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris offer youthful energy.

• The middle order, however, looks shaky with selections like Hussain Talat and Khushdil Shah, both of whom have struggled to cement their places in the past. The choice of Hesson Nawaz as an additional wicket-keeping option further complicates Pakistan’s planning.

• Among the bowlers, the selectors have opted for a spin-heavy strategy. Alongside Mohammad Nawaz, leg-spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqeem feature, though the abundance of leg-spin at the expense of left-arm orthodox variety raises tactical concerns.

Question marks over selection philosophy

The inclusion of relatively unproven names like Salman Mirza and Sahibzada Farhan suggests an experimental approach, but doing so in back-to-back high-stakes tournaments may backfire.

The broader issue is a lack of clarity in selection philosophy. Pakistan appear caught between rebuilding for the future and chasing short-term results. By dropping proven performers such as Babar and Rizwan while retaining underperforming veterans, the selectors risk unsettling the squad’s balance.

Pakistan’s chances going forward

Without the stabilizing presence of Babar and Rizwan, Pakistan’s batting looks vulnerable against quality bowling attacks. The imbalance in spin options and over-reliance on inconsistent middle-order batsmen could further hamper their campaign.

The team’s fortunes will likely depend on how quickly youngsters like Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Wasim Jr. can adapt, and whether the leadership group can cover for the missing experience.

At present, this squad feels like a product of circumstance and politics rather than pure cricketing merit – a risky gamble ahead of two tournaments where Pakistan cannot afford to stumble.

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Pakistan’s 17-member T20I squad

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hesson Ali, Hesson Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqeem.

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Tri-Series Schedule (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

• 29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm

• 30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm

• 1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm

• 2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm

• 4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm

• 5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm

• 7 September – Final – 7pm

Asia Cup 2025 (Pakistan Fixtures – Dubai International Cricket Stadium)

• 12 September – Oman v Pakistan – 6pm

• 14 September – India v Pakistan – 6pm

• 17 September – UAE v Pakistan – 6pm

• 20–26 September – Super Fours (Abu Dhabi & Dubai)

• 28 September – Final – 6pm