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Out-Of-Form Pakistan Players Who Must Perform In Asia Cup To Avoid T20I Exclusion

Debashis Sarangi

Shaheen Afridi must prove his mettle in Asia Cup [Source: AFP]Shaheen Afridi must prove his mettle in Asia Cup [Source: AFP]

After securing an emphatic 2-1 series win against West Indies, Pakistan are getting ready for the much-awaited Asia Cup season. Led by Agha Salman, the 2012 edition winners are placed in Group A and will take on Oman, UAE and India in their league-stage matches. 

The PCB recently announced Pakistan's star-studded squad for the Asia Cup. While all eyes will be on the dynamic Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan, several out-of-form players must step up in the tournament to avoid a potential T20I exclusion, as mentioned below. 

Shaheen Afridi

Why Shaheen Afridi must perform in Asia Cup to avoid T20I snub?

Criterion
Data
Innings6
Wickets4
Average47.75
Strike Rate31.5
Economy9.10

(Shaheen Afridi's T20I stats in 2025)

  • As shown in the above table, ace speedster Shaheen Afridi hasn't been close to his best version in T20Is this year. Statistically, he has managed only four wickets at an ordinary average and strike rate, while being expensive with the ball as well. 
  • Shaheen Afridi is expected to lead Pakistan's pace attack in the Asia Cup. Considering he opens the bowling, Shaheen's task will be to take early wickets with the new ball. 
  • However, the fast bowler has taken a single wicket across six innings in the powerplay in T20Is this year. So, if he persistently fails to deliver with the new ball, it will hamper Pakistan's success in the Asia Cup. The opening batters from the opponent team will settle and dominate the Men in Green if Shaheen doesn't pick wickets inside the first six overs. 
  • If Shaheen sustains his lean patch, especially in the powerplay, he might face the axe from T20Is, having already been snubbed from Tests due to the decline in his wicket-taking prowess. So, he must step up to the occasion in the marquee tournament to avoid a potential T20I snub. 

Mohammad Haris

Why Mohammad Haris must perform in Asia Cup to avoid T20I snub?

Criterion
Data
Runs21
Average4.20
Strike Rate77.78
Single-digit scores5

(Mohammad Haris in his last 6 T20I matches)

  • Mohammad Haris doesn't really bring consistency to the table; however, his aggressive style of play and ability to adjust to different roles make him an asset in T20Is. But the swashbuckling batter has neither scored runs nor struck at a rapid rate in the shortest format of late. 
  • As the data presented in the above table suggests, Haris averages just over four with the bat, recording five single-digit scores in his last six T20I matches. Considering he's the only keeper-batter in Pakistan's Asia Cup squad, Haris is expected to play all matches in the tournament. 
  • So, the Asia Cup 2025 emerges as a do-or-die competition for Haris, and if he doesn't live up to the hype, Pakistan might consider dropping him going forward. 

Faheem Ashraf

Why Faheem Ashraf must perform in Asia Cup to avoid T20I snub?

Criterion
Data
Innings9
Runs97
Wickets6
Bat Average16.17
Bowl average28.83
Bowl strike rate
21
Economy8.24

(Faheem's T20I stats in 2025)

  • Faheem Ashraf made it into Pakistan's Asia Cup squad as a bowling all-rounder. Despite Pakistan giving him ample opportunities, Faheem hasn't quite been up to the mark, amassing 408 runs and scalping just 42 wickets in 57 matches. 
  • His prolonged lean patch has proved costly for Pakistan in T20I cricket. He has been impactful with neither bat nor ball, which is why he might lose his spot from the T20Is if his non-performance derails Pakistan's Asia Cup campaign.