Potential Changes in Pakistan's Cricket Team for the 2025 Asia Cup: Current Standings and Anticipated Alterations for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
The Asia Cup 2025, set to begin on September 9 in the UAE, will see Pakistan field a new-look squad, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to exclude star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan due to their poor form in T20 internationals.
This strategic move is part of Pakistan’s plan to groom youngsters ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup 2025 and the preceding tri-series includes fresh faces like Salman Ali Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, and Sahibzada Farhan.
The PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has clarified that he had no role in the exclusion of these senior players. He emphasized that the squad selection is fully handled by the selection committee based on merit, involving extensive discussions by professional selectors and advisors. Naqvi stated he does not have even "1% role" in player selection.
Babar Azam, who scored 288 runs in 10 innings during his PSL 2025 campaign, is reportedly training hard to stage a comeback after being dropped and demoted in the PCB central contracts, suggesting the players remain motivated to regain their spots in the future.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan has had a poor recent month in terms of his batting performance, a fact that has raised eyebrows of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This loss has been particularly evident in the team's recent performances, such as the crushing defeat by the West Indies, marking the first time in 34 years that Pakistan lost the ODI series against them.
The clash between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled for September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium, but the focus for now is on Pakistan's younger players as they prepare to take on Oman on September 12 in their Asia Cup 2025 campaign opener.
[1] PCB (2025). Pakistan Squad Announced for Asia Cup 2025 and Preceding Tri-Series. [online] Available at: https://www.pcb.com.pk/news/611520/pakistan-squad-announced-for-asia-cup-2025-and-preceding-tri-series
[2] Geo News (2025). Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Dropped from Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad. [online] Available at: https://www.geo.tv/latest/805509-babar-azam-and-mohammad-rizwan-dropped-from-pakistans-asia-cup-2025-squad
[3] ESPNcricinfo (2025). Babar Azam Trains Hard After Being Dropped from Pakistan Squad. [online] Available at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/33684337/babar-azam-trains-hard-after-dropped-pakistan-squad
[4] CricTracker (2025). PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Clarifies Role in Exclusion of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. [online] Available at: https://www.crictracker.com/pcb-chairman-mohsin-naqvi-clarifies-role-in-exclusion-of-babar-azam-and-mohammad-rizwan/
[5] The News International (2025). Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Focuses on Nurturing New Talent for Upcoming Tournaments. [online] Available at: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/805508-pakistan-cricket-board-pcb-focuses-on-nurturing-new-talent-for-upcoming-tournaments
In the 2025 Asia Cup, India will square off against a young Pakistan team that is preparing for the T20 World Cup, as star cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been excluded due to their recent poor form. Meanwhile, Bollywood movies continue to dominate the Indian entertainment industry, with cricket sometimes sharing the spotlight, particularly in sports-centric films.
