Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, speaking ahead of the team’s opening match of the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE, underlined Pakistan’s spin depth and all-round options available for selection.
The Kiwi coach stated that Pakistan has a host of spin bowling options and labeled one Pakistani spinner as the best T20 spinner in the world.
Pakistan’s squad features specialist spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem alongside Mohammad Nawaz, with Saim Ayub and captain Salman Ali Agha offering additional off-spin support as an all-round option.
Mike Hesson said: “The beauty of our side is that we have five spinners. Mohammad Nawaz is the best spinner in the world, and we also have Sufiyan and Abrar. Saim Ayub is now a top-10 all-rounder, so we have plenty of options if conditions suit us.”
Pakistan’s campaign begins in Dubai, where the playing surfaces can encourage spin at different stages of the match. The team also arrives after a preparatory tri-series in Sharjah where they emerged victorious after destroying Afghanistan in the final.
Mike Hesson has previously described the squad as a blend of youth and experience, with variety across departments for UAE conditions.
The pace group includes Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Salman Mirza. In the batting unit, options include Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat, and Faheem Ashraf, with several players providing secondary bowling skills.
Pakistan open their Asia Cup schedule against Oman on September 12 in Dubai. The next group match is against India on September 14 at the same venue, followed by the UAE on September 17. The tournament runs through the group stage into the Super Four phase, concluding with the final at the end of the month in the UAE.
