Five Pakistan stars India can’t afford to ignore at Asia Cup 2025
The two Asian giants last met six months ago in February at the same venue during the Champions Trophy.
Vaibhav Tripathi
September 03, 2025 / 19:46 IST
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In one of the most anticipated clashes in sport, India and Pakistan will lock horns in the sixth match of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14. (AP Photo)
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The two Asian giants last met six months ago in February at the same venue during the Champions Trophy. Since then, a lot has changed in Pakistan cricket. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are no longer part of Pakistan's T20 setup, and even Naseem Shah has been dropped for the Asia Cup. (AP Photo)
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For the first time since 2021, Pakistan will play in a multinational event without the likes of Babar and Rizwan, as both have been left out of the squad for the continental tournament. (AP Photo)
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There are several fresh faces who have performed well in domestic cricket, the Pakistan Super League, and, more recently, in international matches. Many of them will be playing in their first major tournament — and their first match against India. In this listicle, we highlight five Pakistani players India should watch out for... (Photo: Emirates Cricket Board)
Salman Ali Agha: Salman has upgraded his game since being appointed captain of the team. Before being handed the captaincy, his strike rate was below 100, and his average was 10. This year, he is averaging 37 while his strike rate has jumped to 125.54. Not a typical middle-order enforcer, Salman has the technique and temperament to bat deep and play the anchor role in the team. He holds the key to his team’s middle order. (AP Photo)
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Hasan Nawaz: No Pakistani batter has hit more sixes than Hasan in T20Is so far this year. This statistic says a lot about this exciting new big-hitting talent from Pakistan. Starting his career as an opener, Hasan is now playing in the middle order. Pakistan currently lack power hitters in their squad, which is why the decision was made to move Hasan to the middle order. A good player of spin, Hasan can take bowlers to the cleaners and could be the middle-order enforcer his team can rely on. (AP Photo)
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Shaheen Shah Afridi: Not in his prime, Shaheen still remains a threat to any batting line-up. With the new ball, he retains the ability to do early damage, as he has done on several occasions against India in the past. One spell from him often sets the tone for the game in the T20I format, and Shaheen is more than capable of delivering that match-winning spell for Pakistan. (Photo- X/PCB)
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Fakhar Zaman: Unorthodox yet mighty effective — that’s how you describe Fakhar. Undeniably, he has been one of Pakistan’s most successful white-ball batters in recent years. The veteran is well equipped to handle both pace and spin, and India will need to be spot on with their planning to contain him. (AP Photo)
Abrar Ahmed: Abrar emerged as Pakistan’s best bowler when they last played against India, famously bamboozling Shubman Gill with a beautiful delivery. With conditions likely to assist the spinners, Abrar’s variations will make him a challenging prospect for the Indian batters. (AP Photo)
