PCB Announced Asia Cup Squad : Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan Dropped from the List

Lahore (The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced a 17-member team for the tri-series to be held in UAE and then the prestigious Asia Cup, in which the most surprising decision is to exclude former captain Babar Azam and experienced wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan. Babar, who is struggling with poor form, has once again been shown the way out of the team.

The command of the team has been handed over to Salman Ali Agha, while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr. and left-arm bowler Salman Mirza have returned to the team.

After the announcement of the team, Pakistan's white ball cricket head coach Mike Hesson has broken his silence on Babar Azam's exclusion from the team. In the press conference, Hesson revealed that Babar has been advised to improve in some areas, especially his strike rate against spin bowling.

Hesson said, there is no doubt that Babar Azam has been asked to work on some areas, especially his strike rate against spin. He is such a good player that we cannot ignore him. He also indicated that Babar could participate in Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) for his T20I comeback, so that he can show improvement in those aspects of his game.

The Asia Cup will begin in T20 format in the UAE from September 9. Before that, the Salman Ali Agha-led team will play a triangular series against Afghanistan and hosts UAE in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7.

Pakistan's 17-man squad for Asia Cup:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufian Mokim.