PCB Names Asia Cup, UAE Tri-Series Squad Without Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming UAE tri-series and Asia Cup 2025, with Salman Ali Agha retained as captain. Notably, senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out of the squad due to their recent poor form and low strike rates, despite earlier expectations they might be recalled. The squad includes experienced players like Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Haris, alongside several promising young talents such as Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim. The tri-series will feature Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UAE, starting in Sharjah on August 29, followed by the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 28. While Babar Azam is unlikely to play in the tri-series or Asia Cup, he may still participate in the upcoming Test series against South Africa, where his experience is considered valuable. The exclusion of Babar and Rizwan reflects a strategic choice by selectors to prioritize form and inject fresh talent ahead of these significant tournaments.