• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Asia Cup 2025: The Men in Blue have dominated arch-rivals Pakistan lately whenever they have played against each other during multi-nation tournaments. But the Pakistan cricket team has undergone lots of changes before the upcoming Asia Cup, where veteran batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped completely from the T20I side, and the team management has supported youngsters to play aggressive cricket. They have been snubbed from the T20I team post their debacle during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they were knocked out during the group stages.

Salman Ali Agha would be leading the team from the front, and the upcoming continental tournament would give them a great opportunity to analyse their young team's strengths and weaknesses before the T20 World Cup next year. At the same time, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side would be entering the continental tournaments as the favourite, but they would be cautious of the youngsters of their arch-rivals.

Here are the players to watch out for from the Pakistan team for India:

1. Hasan Nawaz

This youngster made his debut in the shortest format this year, and the team management has been backing him since his debut match. He began his career on a disappointing note by getting dismissed on ducks during his first two matches, but it didn't take him long to make a brilliant comeback and score a hundred during his third match. The team management has been supporting him for his aggressive batting till now, from the initial days of his career, as he has a strike rate of 174.13 after playing in 16 T20I matches.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Will It Benefit Team India If Sanju Samson Plays As Middle-Order Batter Over Jitesh Sharma?

2. Saim Ayub

He is being considered as the next big thing for Pakistan cricket, but hasn't played against arch-rival India yet. He has represented Pakistan in 38 T20Is, where he has scored 788 runs. He has batted at a strike rate of 138.73, which isn't brilliant like others, but he can face top-notch bowlers. He can also bowl as a part-time spinner for the Men in Green during the upcoming tournament.

3. Mohammad Haris

This right-hander is finally getting enough chances in the shortest format once the team management decided to move on from Rizwan and Babar. He had smashed a hundred against Bangladesh earlier this year, but since then, he has been struggling with form. The upcoming tournament will provide him with a chance to prove his worth.

4. Sufiyan Muqeem

He can bring a new dimension to their bowling attack, especially in the UAE, where spinners are expected to play a huge role. He might not have gotten chances consistently since the last few years, but the Men in Blue's struggle against unknown spinners might help Pakistan use Muqeem as a weapon in Dubai.

Also Read: ENG vs SA ODI & T20I Series: All You Need To Know About Schedule, Venues, Squads And Live Streaming Details

5. Abrar Ahmed

This right-arm spinner grabbed everyone's attention during the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he took Shubman Gill's wicket and then was seen giving a fiery send-off. He also received flak for his celebration, but all eyes will be on the key battle between him and Gill, where both teams will lock horns with each other during a high-octane clash.