Pakistan Cricket Board has announced its squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28. In a surprising move, senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out for the first time in eight years, as the team management opts to back young talent for the marquee event.

Pakistan has been placed in Group A alongside India, Oman, and the UAE. The Men in Green will kick off their campaign against Oman on September 12, followed by a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals India on September 14, and their final group-stage game against the UAE on September 17.

Ahead of the Asia Cup, Pakistan will also participate in a tri-series featuring Afghanistan and the UAE, which will serve as crucial preparation for the tournament.

In previous editions, Pakistan finished as runner-up to Sri Lanka in the T20I Asia Cup 2022 and failed to qualify for the final in the ODI format of Asia Cup 2023 after losing two Super Four matches.

The announced squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup 2025 includes: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.