Should Pakistan Make Bold Squad Changes After Asia Cup 2025?

Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has stirred debate. Selector decisions, role definitions, senior player omissions and inconsistent batting have become focal points. In this article I analyse why bold squad changes might be necessary after Asia Cup 2025. I cover role clarity, senior player returns (Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan), emerging talents, bowling and batting balance. I conclude with detailed suggestions and what selectors must do to strengthen Pakistan for upcoming tournaments.

Current State of the Squad & Role Imbalance

Here is Pakistan’s T20 squad as of Asia Cup 2025:

Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

Role confusion and batting structure issues

• The top order seems relatively settled: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz are being used. But some of these players have played top-order in domestic / under-19 and may be comfortable there; others are being shuffled.
   
• The middle order is weak in terms of stability: Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah are in but their roles shift between matches. Some matches see them played high, others low.
   
• Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris is being used but questions remain about whether he can anchor or accelerate in middle overs.
   
• Tail-enders / finishers are not clearly defined. When top order fails, there is no reliable batter to rebuild innings or accelerate.

Where it’s strong

• Pakistan’s pace attack remains decent with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim.
   
• Spin options with Abrar Ahmed give variety; younger fast bowlers like Salman Mirza add depth.
   
• All-rounders like Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz help with balance.

Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan: Should They Return?

Current situation

• Pakistan selected the 17-member Asia Cup squad without Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
   
• The selection committee appears to be favouring youth and aggressive batting over anchors.
   
• Criticism over Babar and Rizwan focuses on their strike rates in T20s lately being low relative to what’s needed in the modern game.

Arguments for Babar’s return

• Babar Azam still brings class, experience and ability to anchor innings when early wickets fall.
   
• In big pressure games, his temperament remains valuable. When the batting collapses, someone who can rebuild innings is needed.
   
• If he accepts a batting position lower than opening (one-down or two-down), he can be more effective.

Arguments against or conditions for return

• Unless Babar improves his strike rate, especially in powerplay overs, and improves against spin, his return could drag the scoring rate.
   
• Similarly for Rizwan: wicketkeeper or batter? If Haris isn’t performing well as keeper-batter, then Rizwan could be a backup. But he must also improve his off-side game.
   
• Selectors must ensure these returns don’t block chances for emerging talents who are showing promise.

Emerging Talents & Domestic Pool

Who looks promising

• Hasan Nawaz is a top-order batter with good form in domestic / U-19 cricket.
   
• Saim Ayub has shown flashes at international T20 level.
   
• Younger bowlers like Salman Mirza may offer depth.

Need for better scouting & consistency

• Domestic performance must be rewarded but consistency matters: some players perform in PSL or domestic but fail to convert at the international level.
   
• Selectors need to define roles early—for example, who is finisher, who is anchor, who can rotate strike, who is aggressive opener.

Recommendations for Squad Changes

Here are recommendations for bold but measured changes Pakistan should consider:

Reinstate Babar Azam in middle order

• Bring Babar back as a middle-order anchor (one-down or two-down). He need not open if other openers are doing well.
   
• He should be used in situations where top order fails or when chasing. His recovery ability is important.

Mohammad Rizwan as specialist wicketkeeper/back-up

• If Haris continues to underperform as wicketkeeper-batter, bringing Rizwan back in that role makes sense.
   
• As a batter, Rizwan should improve his strike rate, particularly off-side. But his experience is valuable in pressure games.

Clarify batting order & roles

• Fix the top three positions: openers with aggressive mindset, third batter who can adjust depending on match.
   
• Define middle order: who rebuilds innings, who accelerates, who finishes.
   
• Assign a backup finisher role. Someone who can finish overs with boundaries & rotate strike.

Trim or rotate underperformers

• Players who have been shifted around too much without consistency should be evaluated. If someone doesn’t perform in defined roles, they may be rotated out.

• Use PSL and under-19 tournaments to test new talents.
   
• Ensure backup bowlers & batters are ready in case of injury or loss of form.

Coaching & selector support

• Coaches should help players adapt to roles. For example, mentoring for powerplay aggression, running between the wickets, shot selection.
   
• The selection committee should align match strategy with squad makeup: consider pitch, opponent, atmosphere.

Batters & Bowlers to Watch

Here are tables of top batters and top bowlers Pakistan (or opponents) should watch / include going forward. Helps plan.

Top Batters to Include

Player	Role	What they bring / what to improve
Hasan Nawaz	Top order batter	Good strike rate domestically; needs more experience under pressure
Sahibzada Farhan	Middle order batter	Aggressive potential; needs better consistency
Saim Ayub	Top order / Floater	Good starts; must convert starts into big scores
Babar Azam	Anchor / seasoned batter	Experience; can provide stability if strike rate improves
Fakhar Zaman	Opener	Good in powerplay; must continue aggressive intent from balls one

Top Bowlers to Include

Player	Role	What they bring / what to improve
Shaheen Shah Afridi	Strike fast bowler	Experience; lead pace attack under pressure
Haris Rauf	Fast bowler	Good pace; needs control in middle overs
Abrar Ahmed	Spin bowler	Good spin option; needs to be used strategically on spin-friendly tracks
Hasan Ali	Medium pace / death overs support	Experience; must mitigate by maintaining fitness and accuracy
Salman Mirza	Young fast bowler	Fresh legs; could offer breakthroughs if utilized properly

Key Takeaways 

Putting all above together, yes Pakistan should make bold changes. But bold does not mean reckless. The changes must be strategic:

• Re-integrate senior players where their roles are well-defined (Babar, Rizwan)
• Push continuous performers and promote talent from domestic circuit
• Ensure each position has backups and the batting order is settled before major tournaments
• Coaches and selectors must give players clarity and trust

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Conclusion

Pakistan’s squad for Asia Cup 2025 showed glimpses of strength but suffered from lack of defined roles, inconsistent batting in middle order, and absence of senior experience. To be competitive in upcoming tournaments (T20 World Cup, bilateral series) the team must do more than tweak; they must define roles, balance aggression and stability, and bring back experienced players under clear conditions. Selectors should also build depth and ensure that domestic performers get fair chances. If Pakistan makes these changes now Pakistan can avoid repeating past mistakes. Bold change is needed not just for headlines but for performance.