Overview

• PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said he has no role in choosing the team, citing a selection committee and advisory body that hold lengthy deliberations.
• Salman Ali Agha was named captain for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup, with senior pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali included.
• Selectors prioritized power-hitting options such as Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman for the top order.
• Hesson said Babar has been asked to raise his strike rate and improve against spin, noting he could showcase progress through opportunities like the BBL.
• Neither Babar nor Rizwan has featured in a T20 international since December 2024.