Unlucky Proven Performers Whom PCB Dropped From Pakistan's Asia Cup Squad

Debashis Sarangi

Shadab Khan was left out of Pak Asia Cup squad [Source: AFP]Shadab Khan was left out of Pak Asia Cup squad [Source: AFP]

This afternoon, the PCB announced Pakistan's squad for the Asia Cup 2025. Led by Agha Salman, Pakistan will cross swords against India, Oman and the United Arab Emirates in the league stage of the competition. 

Although Pakistan picked a star-studded side, here are several proven performers who missed out on selection for the Asia Cup. 

Abbas Afridi

Criterion
Data
Innings23
Wickets38
Average15.52
Strike Rate10.9
Economy8.48

(Abbas Afridi's T20I stats)

Why was Abbas Afridi excluded from PAK Asia Cup squad?

  • As shown in the above table, Abbas Afridi has been a prolific performer for Pakistan in T20I cricket. He is a genuine wicket-taker, and his ability to hit the deck and outfox the batters with cutters and slow balls could've made him a valuable asset for the Men in Green. 
  • However, Pakistan preferred more reputed players such as Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf for the marquee event. While Shaheen and Hasan were picked as new ball specialists, Rauf's extra pace got more weightage over Abbas Afridi's wily variations. Additionally, Mohammad Wasim Jr's ability to generate old ball swing and nail yorkers prompted Pakistan to pick him as their death-overs specialist. 

Shadab Khan

Criterion
Data
Matches112
Wickets112
Runs792
Bat Strike Rate
140.2
Bowl Average24.4
Bowl Strike Rate19.8
Economy7.37

(Shadab Khan's T20I stats)

Why was Shadab Khan excluded from PAK Asia Cup squad?

  • Shadab Khan has been Pakistan's first-choice all-rounder in T20Is. Apart from scalping 112 wickets, Shadab has struck 792 runs at a blistering strike rate of 140.2. 
  • However, Shadab Khan recently sustained an injury that sidelined him from the recently held series against the West Indies. In his absence, Mohammad Nawaz made a dream return to T20Is, emerging as Pakistan's wrecker-in-chief with the ball in the Caribbean. 
  • Thus, Nawaz made it into Pakistan's squad, while Shadab missed out on selection. Having said that, if Shadab is fit, he should've been picked over Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf, who have ordinary numbers in T20Is. 

Mohammad Rizwan

Criterion
Data
Innings93
Runs3414
Average47.4
Strike Rate125.4

(Mohammad Rizwan's T20I stats)

Why was Mohammad Rizwan excluded from PAK Asia Cup squad?

  • Veteran batter Mohammad Rizwan has remarkable numbers in T20Is, showcasing his batting prowess in the format. Although his strike rate is slightly on the lower side, Rizwan has been one of the most consistent batters for Pakistan in T20Is. 
  • The emergence of Mohammad Haris and Pakistan's quest to form a more explosive top-order shut the door for Rizwan's T20I comeback. Having said that, it's worth mentioning that Haris hasn't done anything remarkable in the shortest format, averaging less than 19 in the format. 
  • In such a scenario, it wouldn't have been surprising if Pakistan had preferred a more established and dependable wicketkeeper-batter like Rizwan for the mega event. However, as things stand, Rizwan finds himself out of the T20I setup, with Haris getting an entry despite his mediocre returns.