HUGE SHOCK! Azam & Rizwan OUT of Pakistan's Asia Cup Squad!

Cricket fans in South Africa are reeling after the bombshell announcement that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been excluded from Pakistan's T20 squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the warm-up tri-series against Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates. This unexpected decision has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, leaving many questioning the rationale behind it.

Why Were They Dropped?

While Azam and Rizwan have consistently been star performers for Pakistan in the shortest format of the game, head coach Mike Hesson cited the strong performances of other players as the reason for their omission. "We know what a fine player Babar (Azam) is," Hesson stated. "Babar has been asked to improve in certain areas, like taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate and he is working hard on these things." He further emphasized that the current players are "performing well and having a positive impact."

Hesson's Strategy

Since Hesson took over as head coach in May, Pakistan has experienced mixed results, winning a T20 series 3-0 at home but losing 2-1 away to Bangladesh. They then secured a 2-1 victory against the West Indies in the United States. Hesson's focus is firmly set on winning the tri-series and the Asia Cup, aiming to peak during these crucial events.

The Squad

Allrounder Salman Agha will captain the side, which also welcomes back fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza. Fakhar Zaman also returns after recovering from an injury. The tri-series kicks off on August 29, followed by the Asia Cup on September 9, both held in the UAE.

• Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim

Will this bold move pay off for Pakistan? Only time will tell. Cricket fans across South Africa will be watching closely to see how the new-look squad performs in these crucial upcoming tournaments.