Lahore, Pakistan – August 18, 2025 – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the T20I Tri-Series against South Africa and New Zealand, with pace spearhead Naseem Shah making a much-anticipated comeback after a year-long injury hiatus.
Squad Highlights:
- Return of Naseem Shah: The fiery fast bowler, who last played in July 2024, has been declared fit after rehab.
- New Faces: Uncapped leg-spinner Usman Khan and opener Rafay Ahmed earn maiden call-ups.
- Babar Azam retains captaincy, with Mohammad Rizwan as vice-captain.
Controversial Omissions:
- Shaheen Afridi (rested for workload management) and Shadab Khan (poor form) excluded.
- Fans debate the absence of Fakhar Zaman, replaced by Saim Ayub as primary left-handed batter.
Coach Flick’s Stern Warning:
Despite Pakistan’s 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe last week, head coach Hansi Flick criticized the team’s “lack of intensity” in fielding. “Winning is not enough—we must dominate,” he stated at the squad announcement press conference.
Upcoming Schedule:
- T20I Tri-Series (Pakistan, SA, NZ) – Sept 1-10, 2025 (Karachi & Lahore).
- Asia Cup 2025 – Sept 12-28 (Host: Sri Lanka).
Asian Citizen News will provide live coverage of both tournaments.
Leave a Reply