Major Shake-Up: Pakistan Excludes Babar Azam and Rizwan from Upcoming Tri-Series Squad

In a significant shake-up, the Pakistan cricket selectors have announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming tri-series in the UAE, notably excluding star players Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan. Led by Salman Ali Agha, the team will compete against Afghanistan and the UAE before heading into the Asia Cup. This bold decision has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike, as Pakistan prepares to face tough competition in the Asia Cup, where they are grouped with arch-rivals India. Discover more about the squad and the upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 17, 2025, 13:49 IST

Pakistan's New Squad Announcement

In a surprising move, the Pakistan cricket selectors have decided to omit experienced players Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan from the 17-member squad for the upcoming tri-series in the UAE, set to take place later this month. This announcement was made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on their official platform.

The newly announced squad includes prominent fast bowlers such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammed Wasim, and left-arm pacer Salman Mirza.

As the team prepares for the Asia Cup, which will be contested in a T20 format in the UAE starting September 9, the squad, led by Salman Ali Agha, will first engage in a tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE from August 29 to September 7.

In the Asia Cup, Pakistan finds itself in Group A alongside its long-time rivals India, as well as the UAE and Oman, competing in an eight-team tournament scheduled from September 9 to 28.

Here’s the complete squad for Pakistan:

Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.