How ready is Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup?
Pakistan's build-up to the upcoming Asia Cup has sparked considerable debate, especially following their recent defeat plus victory combo, which left fans and analysts questioning their actual form.
With the tournament starting in September, pressure is mounting on whether this squad is truly ready to face Asia’s best. Here’s a closer look at the cricket team’s current situation:
Recent match results
Their last match left fans wondering whether they still have it or not since their second game with West Indies left them defeated by a narrow two wickets. However, both Day 1 and Day 3 proved they still have the guts to earn victory against their opponents. As a result, this gave fans, analysts, and enthusiasts the hope that Pakistan is still in their highest form.
Looking back at the results, some would say that the West Indies only got ‘lucky’ having only two wickets ahead of the team. Most would say yes, but the credit still goes to the team’s hard work. Despite that, Pakistan’s Day 1 performance is more than impressive, scoring 178/6. Their Day 3 victory—their most recent win—is enough evidence as they bagged 189/4.
The top players of the team
The Pakistan Cricket Board will soon announce its squad for the T20I tri-nation series and Asia Cup 2025. Despite Fakhar Zaman’s injury, there’s been no official talk of Babar Azam’s return, though both remain top players in the country.
Babar Azam
With 128 matches played under his belt and an astounding 4,223 runs scored, Babar can be one of Team Pakistan’s cards. He resigned as a captain because he wanted to lessen his workload. Babar prefers to be a player and focus on his batting skills. Currently, his batting average is at 39.83, which proves that he can be one of Pakistan’s main weapons for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Fakhar Zaman
Zaman is a close second to the top T20I player, as his experience of 97 matches vets his skill. He also managed to earn 1,949 runs in his short time in the field. However, he is currently suffering from a hamstring injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the match against the West Indies. He returned home to Pakistan on August 4, and hopefully, he'll be back before the Asia Cup.
Recent statements
Captain Salman Ali Agha expressed confidence in Pakistan’s readiness for the upcoming Asia Cup despite a narrow two-wicket loss to the West Indies on Day 2 and a close victory on Day 3. He praised the team’s bowling and fielding, particularly the spinners, but acknowledged weaknesses in the powerplay batting and death bowling that still need improvement.
