Asher Butt
Pakistan cricket enters the Asia Cup 2025 with confidence and clarity of purpose, aiming to clinch their maiden T20I Asia Cup title. Fresh from their recent triumph in the Sharjah tri-series, the Men in Green head into the continental tournament with momentum and a balanced squad blending form, experience, and youthful energy.
Tournament overview
The Asia Cup 2025, to be staged across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, features eight teams divided into two groups. Pakistan has been drawn in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, hosts UAE, and newcomers Oman.
Pakistan’s fixtures:
12 September – vs Oman, Dubai International Cricket Stadium (6:30 pm local)
14 September – vs India, DICS (6:30 pm local)
17 September – vs UAE, DICS (6:30 pm local)
The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Four stage (20–26 September), with the final scheduled for September 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan’s record and aspirations
Pakistan has won the Asia Cup twice (2000 and 2012), but both victories came in the ODI format. The T20I edition has remained elusive—most painfully in 2022, when Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the final by 23 runs.
This year, the focus is firmly on rewriting history in the shorter format.
Squad and key players
The 17-member squad combines seasoned performers with emerging talent. Notably, 10 players have prior Asia Cup experience, while five others bring T20I tournament credentials.
Mohammad Nawaz, the standout from the Sharjah tri-series (120 runs and 10 wickets), is the only player to have featured in both the 2016 and 2022 T20I Asia Cups. Fakhar Zaman’s resurgence with a match-winning 77 not out against Afghanistan adds further depth to the batting order.
Squad: Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
Coach’s confidence
Head coach Mike Hesson, credited with improving Pakistan’s white-ball form, expressed optimism:
“Beating Afghanistan in conditions that suit their spinners was a real confidence builder. Winning a final before the Asia Cup was very important for us.”
Hesson highlighted Fakhar Zaman’s adaptability and Nawaz’s all-round brilliance, while emphasizing the need to remain calm under external pressures:
“We’ve done our scouting, but quick adaptation will be key. The side that handles challenges best will lift the trophy.”
The road ahead
With their eyes set on the Asia Cup crown, Pakistan’s journey begins against Oman, but the real test arrives on September 14, when they face defending champions India in a high-voltage encounter in Dubai.
The Men in Green carry the weight of history, the hunger for redemption, and the momentum of recent victories. For Pakistan cricket, Asia Cup 2025 is more than just a tournament—it is an opportunity to reclaim continental supremacy and set the tone ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
