Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the 17-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the UAE tri-nation T20 series. Notably, captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan have been left out of the squad. The decision to exclude these key players has been attributed to the need for them to improve their T20 performances, as explained by Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, who mentioned that Babar Azam has been encouraged to enhance his game through opportunities like the Big Bash League (BBL). The squad includes the addition of pace bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza, who were part of the team that recently faced the West Indies. The announcement has been covered by multiple sources including the International Cricket Council (ICC), Reuters, ESPNcricinfo, and regional news outlets.