Aaqib Javed, the high performance director of Pakistan cricket team, is optimistic about their chances against India in the upcoming Asia Cup. The much awaited match is on September 14 at Dubai International Stadium.
Pakistan’s T20I team is in transition. After leaving out key players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the team’s performance has been inconsistent, including a series loss to Bangladesh. Everyone agrees Pakistan’s current team is not as strong as India in terms of skill and form. They will have to play out of their skin to win. But Javed thinks an upset is possible.
This team can beat India in Asia Cup. Whether you agree or not, India-Pakistan match is the biggest match in cricket. Every player knows the importance of this game, Javed said after the squad was announced.
The former fast bowler also mentioned Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub as examples of players who have improved over time. The current selection shows how players can grow. Sahibzada Farhan has made a comeback and Saim after struggling initially has started to make an impact, he added.
The decision to leave out Babar and Rizwan has sparked debate among fans. Javed clarified that this doesn’t mean their T20I careers are over. He said both can come back in the team if they perform well in leagues and domestic cricket. No one’s career is ever over – opportunities always exist. They are gaining experience in leagues like Big Bash and PSL. Performance is key. Those who perform will get the chance to play, Javed said.
Pakistan’s director of cricket, Hesson, also shared his thoughts on the new team composition. He called the squad very competitive, balancing experienced players with new talent.
We think we have a competitive team after the recent T20I series. We’re excited to see new players step up along with our senior players. It’s a great mix of energy and experience for the Tri-Nation series and Asia Cup, Hesson said.
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He further added that Pakistan has included five frontline fast bowlers for UAE conditions and two mystery spinners to provide variety in the attack. Pakistan announced their Asia Cup squad with Salman Ali Agha as the captain. The squad includes Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman and other talented players. Despite expectations that PCB would recall Babar and Rizwan for Asia Cup, the board decided to stick with the core group of players who have been playing together even though their results have been mixed.
Asia Cup 2025 starts on September 09. Pakistan is in Group A with India, UAE and Oman. They are banking on their team to perform and win the title.
Pakistan’s squad for Asia Cup 2025: Salman Ali Agha (C), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (WK), Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed
