Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped a bombshell while selecting the Asia Cup 2025 squad as they left out veteran cricketers, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. The snub didn’t sit down well with the Pakistani fans and there questions on the competency of the team. Amidst this, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has broken the silence.
Naqvi denied any involvement with the dropping of the two Pakistani legends and mentioned that it was purely the job of the selectors.
“First of all, I don’t have even 1 per cent role in putting players into the team or taking them out. We have a selection committee and then an advisory body; they all sit together. The process goes through a lot – discussions that last 8-10 hours, sometimes for 2-3 days,” said Mohsin Naqvi to reporters on 23rd August 2025, as quoted by Times of India.
“Definitely, if a team is being selected, it’s in good hands; all professionals are there. I’ve only told them one thing – whatever decision they take, it should be on merit, and I will support that,” he added.
Pakistan play a T20I Tri-Series before Asia Cup 2025
The Salman Agha-led squad will be playing a T20I Tri-Series in UAE featuring UAE and Afghanistan. It is slated to begin from 29th August 2025 in UAE. The first game will be played between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
It will be taking place at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium in Sharjah. UAE take on Pakistan on 30th August 2025 at the same venue.
Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2025 and UAE Tri-Series
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim.
