Pakistan T20 Squad Arrives in Dubai for Asia Cup and Tri-Nation Series
The Pakistan men’s T20 cricket team has reached Dubai for the upcoming Asia Cup and Tri-Nation Series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday.
The tri-series, featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates, will begin on August 29, while the Asia Cup is scheduled to kick off in the UAE on September 9.
According to the PCB, the squad traveled from Pakistan in four groups to ensure smooth coordination of players and support staff. A pre-series training camp will run from August 21 to 27, with the team set to begin practice at the ICC Cricket Academy tomorrow.
The ICC Academy will serve as the squad’s primary training base, while a practice T20 match has also been scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, state broadcaster PTV reported. The PCB said the arrangements are designed to provide players with the “ideal environment and facilities” to prepare for the two major tournaments.
Team Selection and Leadership
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Notably, star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out of the squad. The duo, who have been key performers for Pakistan in T20 cricket, have not featured since December. Head coach Mike Hesson explained their exclusion by pointing to the strong performances of other players in recent months.
Since Hesson’s appointment in May, Pakistan have played three T20 series — whitewashing an opponent 3-0 at home, losing 2-1 in Bangladesh, and defeating the West Indies 2-1 in the United States.
All-rounder Salman Agha will lead the squad, with pacers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza making their return.
Pakistan Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim.