Pakistan announced their squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, August 17. The multi-nation competition will be played in the UAE from September 9 to 28, in a T20 format.
The Pakistan Cricket Board selectors went for a mix of youth and experience in the roster, although two significant omissions caught all the limelight.
Star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were left out of the team due to their poor run of form in all formats in 2025.
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While several ex-Pakistan cricketers backed director of cricket Mike Hesson and chief selector Aquib Javed for ignoring the out-of-form players, Pakistan legend and former Javed Miandad came to the duo's defence and slammed the selection committee's call.
Javed Miandad slams PCB selectors for ignoring Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan in Asia Cup squad
Babar Azam has not featured in the T20 format for Pakistan since December 2024, and was even omitted from their T20 squad on the tour of West Indies, which Pakistan won.
He was brought back in the ODI series but he failed miserably as Pakistan went down 2-1 in the series against the hosts.
Despite Azam's terrible run of form, Miandad backed the Pakistan star, while raising questions on the credibility of Javed and Hesson.
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Speaking to reporters, the Pakistan icon said: "Unko khud ko nahi pata. Unhone cricket kheli hai? Jo jis level pe cricket kheli hai, woh selection kar rahe hain Babar Azam ki. Usko kya nazar aayega? (they have no idea, have they even played cricket? At the level they have played, how are they eligible to select Babar and what eyes do they have?")
He added, "Babar Azam is a great player. Ups and downs hote hain (there are ups and downs in the game). Cricket is like a radio — you have to catch the station. Jab aap wicket pe jaate ho, bowler aata hai, aap sochte ho — haan, main yeh kar sakta hoon (a batter has plenty to think when he walks in the middle and responds accordingly)."
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On Tuesday, August 19, Pakistan's arch-rivals India are set to announce their squad for the Asia Cup. India and Pakistan will square off in the group stage on September 14.