A hybrid Asia Cup squad, featuring four representatives from Pakistan and three from Sri Lanka, potentially capable of outperforming India.
In the upcoming Asia Cup, a host of promising newcomers and seasoned veterans are set to dazzle audiences with their skills. Here's a glance at some of the standout players from each team.
Azmatullah Omarzai, the ICC's ODI Player of the Year in 2024, has been selected as a seam-bowling all-rounder. Known for his rate of six-hitting that rivals some of the best in the world, Omarzai is considered one of the best pace-bowling all-rounders in the subcontinent, after Hardik Pandya.
Taskin Ahmed, a quick bowler built for Asian conditions, particularly in the Powerplay and at the death, is another player to watch. His teammate, Hassan Nawaz, has been destructive through the middle overs since moving to No.5. Although he is yet to face genuinely world-class opposition, the early signs are ominous.
Pathum Nissanka, a Sri Lankan batsman, struggled with a low strike rate in T20 cricket initially but has improved significantly in the last two years. He has made 756 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate pushing 140, showcasing his potential as a valuable asset in the team.
Saim Ayub, who made his international debut over two years ago, has shown promise in both ODIs and T20 cricket, but his breakthrough came in T20 cricket. Since September 1, 2024, he has made 479 runs, averaging over 34 and striking at over 150.
Mohammad Nawaz, another player recalled to the T20I setup, has been given a clear role to hit the ball long and keep the runs down. In the last two years, he has made 479 runs, averaging over 34 and striking at over 150. His economy rate of 6.01 in 2025 and some helpful wickets further highlight his versatility.
Fakhar Zaman, a left-hander, made his name in the 2017 Champions Trophy final and has opened for the majority of his T20I career. Recently, he has moved to No.4 and No.3, where he has struck at 156, including some highly impactful cameos.
Matheesha Pathirana, one of the world's foremost death-overs specialists, strikes once every 6.44 balls in overs 17-20 in the last two years. Litton Das, a wicketkeeper for Bangladesh, has a career strike rate of 126 in T20 cricket, but in the last two years, he has maintained a steady 135.
Rashid Khan remains one of the first names on any T20 team sheet, being the top wicket-taker in T20I cricket and T20 cricket overall. Wanindu Hasaranga is a proven performer in T20 cricket and can be particularly dangerous in Asia.
Although Kusal Perera, another wicketkeeper, is not included in this list, the Asia Cup promises to be a thrilling event featuring some of the best cricketing talent from the Asian continent. A theoretical Asia Cup XI, composed only of players currently in their respective Asia Cup squads, would include top cricketers from the eight participating Asian teams with Test status or qualifying through ACC’s Premier Cup. However, no explicit official XI list is published in the available data.
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