Why Mohammed Rizwan not selected in Pakistan's Asia Cup 2025 squad

Along with Babar Azam, Pakistan’s ODI captain and wicket-keeper, Mohammed Rizwan, has not been picked up by the selection committee for the upcoming Tri-series against Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), followed by the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Abu Dhabi.

This is a huge change in the plans and trends of the Green Brigade for the shortest format. Mohammed Rizwan has overall drilled 3414 runs in 93 innings at an average of 47.41 and a strike rate of more than 125 with the help of 30 half-centuries and one century at the best score of unbeaten 104 runs.

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During the recent season of the PSL in 2025, for the Multan Sultans, the veteran clubbed 367 runs in 10 innings at an average of 52.42 and a strike rate of 139.54, scoring one fifty and one century at the best score of unbeaten 105 runs. But just like Azam, Rizwan tends to slow down a lot inside the first six overs. His partnership at the opening position with Babar Azam hasn’t helped the national side on most occasions.

Why Mohammed Rizwan was not selected in Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

Rizwan’s last T20I series came against South Africa away from home last year in December. He ended as the third leading run-getter of the series with 85 runs in two innings at an average of 42.50. But the biggest issue was his strike rate of around 113.33 with the best score of 74 runs. His 113 strike rate will hardly help during these modern T20Is.

“In Lahore, the surfaces were flat and the batting excelled. We went to Bangladesh, where there were incredibly challenging and low-scoring games. Our top order sets the game up. In all the games, we won, and the top order performed well. The third game in the West Indies, our openers put on 140 (138).” Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, expressed during a recent interaction with the press.

“We need that at a run rate that gets us ahead of the game. T20 is all about setting the game up and being ahead of the game all the time, in case you get yourself out. From a batting point of view, we've got a line-up that can continue to do that.” Hesson addressed, which perhaps is an indication of the selectors taking their focus off Rizwan.