LAHORE: The Pakistan selectors and team management have placed their trust in emerging talent over experienced pros, as reflected in the squad named on Sunday for the upcoming Twenty20 International tri-series and Asia Cup.

The absence of former mainstays Babar Azam and Moha­mmad Rizwan from the 17-member contingent confirmed that the duo remain out of Pakistan’s plans — particularly for the shortest format — with Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub now seen as top-order batters better suited to the modern T20 game.

The tri-series — starting Aug. 29 and featuring hosts United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan — and the Asia Cup, kicking off Sept. 9, will offer Pakistan a chance to test combinations ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.

The strategic shift follows the arrival of Mike Hesson as Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach. Under his leadership, Babar and Rizwan have lost their places in the T20I side, with Saim and Fakhar Zaman — returning from a hamstring injury — preferred as the

first-choice openers, and Sahibzada seen as a like-for-like replacement.

Wicket-keeper-batter Moh­ammad Haris is also expected to play a key role at the top of the order, with captain Salman Ali Agha and Hasan Nawaz forming the middle order.

Hesson said his nine matches in charge provided a sufficient sample size to stick with the same combination as Pakistan look to “peak at pinnacle events.”

“From a T20 perspective, the team has performed well, winning six of the last nine games,” Hesson told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, referencing Pakistan’s 3-0 home win over Bangladesh, a 2-1 defeat in the return leg, and a 2-1 victory against the West Indies in the United States.

“Of the three losses, one came on the last ball, one by a handful of runs, and one was a significant defeat. The team is progressing well in T20s and building depth for future events like the World Cup. The focus is on creating opportunities and maintaining consistency.”

Hesson was joined by Pakistan’s de facto chief selector and high-performance head Aaqib Javed at the press conference. Both defended the decision to exclude Babar and Rizwan despite their impressive averages — an area where their replacements have yet to match them.

“We know what a fine player Babar is,” Hesson said. “He has been asked to improve in certain areas, such as taking on spin and increasing his strike rate, and he’s working hard on those aspects.”

Aaqib, meanwhile, highlighted the reasoning behind the inclusion of Saim, Fakhar, and Sahibzada.

“Saim has shown tremendous progress over the past year and has been one of the most consistent performers in white-ball cricket,” said the former Test pacer. “Sahibzada Farhan excels in both average and strike rate, making him a strong option. Fakhar Zaman’s quality is unquestionable. These players are being backed based on their performances and potential.”

WASIM RETURNS

Pakistan head into the tri-series and Asia Cup with a bolstered pace attack, featuring the return of Mohammad Wasim — after a long injury layoff — and Salman Mirza, who was dropped for the West Indies series despite an impressive debut in Bangladesh.

The duo will complement the experienced pace battery of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali.

The spin department includes left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, while all-rounders Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, and Khushdil Shah offer depth and balance, both with the ball and bat — a preferred approach under Hesson.

“The reliance on all-rounders suits T20 cricket, which is different from formats of the past,” Aaqib said. “The current squad has a good balance of talent and options.”

Hesson acknowledged that Pakistan, who struggled on low-scoring pitches in Bangladesh, will need to adapt to similar spin-friendly conditions in Sharjah, which will host the entire tri-series. Action will then shift to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Asia Cup.

“Playing in Sharjah will be challenging due to spin-friendly conditions,” said Hesson. “The middle order is critical — not just to rotate strike against spin, but also to apply pressure. It’s a big challenge, but the team is aware and preparing accordingly. This will be valuable preparation for the T20 World Cup.”

After the tri-series ends on Sept. 5, Pakistan will open their Asia Cup campaign against Oman on Sept. 12, followed by the high-voltage clash against India on Sept. 14.

“The Pakistan-India match is the biggest in world cricket, and every player and stakeholder understands its importance,” Aaqib said. “This 17-member squad has the ability to beat any team, including India. The team is well-prepared, and no extra pressure is needed — the players are motivated and confident of putting in a strong performance.”

UAE and Oman complete Group ‘A’ alongside Pakistan. Group ‘B’ features Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2025