Asia Cup 2025 : Pakistan Squad SWOT analysis: strong Top order but Middle order remains weak

When Pakistan announced their squad for their Asia Cup 2025, the spotlight immediately fell on two glaring omissions: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Once the cornerstones  of the Pakistan batting unit, the duo were left out due to long-standing concerns over their strike rates in T20 cricket. Since new White Ball head coach Mike Hesson took over, he has made one thing clear – Pakistan must prioritize strike rate and intent over accumulation of runs. The member squad reflects that shift in philosophy.

With Sam Ali Agha appointed as a captain, Pakistan will field a largely youthful unit that is built for Agression .  But while the Squad  has genuine firepower at the top and variety, blowing the middle order could once again become their biggest weakness .  Let’s break down the side of a classic SWOT analysis:

Strengths: Explosive Top order and strong pace attack:

The biggest strength of this Pakistan squad is undoubtedly its top depth. Instead  of persisting with Babar and Rizwan, Pakistan has gone with more attacking players.

• Sahibzada Farhan has been in brilliant touch, scoring three fifties in just six games this year at a strike rate of nearly 145.
• Saim Ayub, though inconsistent, is a natural stroke maker with the kind of fearless batting Pakistan often craves.
• Fakhar Zaman remains a proven match winner capable of turning games on his day.
• Mohammad Harris, who will also keep wickets, has a career strike rate of almost 55, a rare quality in the Pakistan batting lineup.

Together this top order ensures Pakistan will not be left behind in the power play, something that has often been hampered in the past.

Equally strong is Pakistan ‘ s fast blowing unit. The trio of  Shaheen Shah Afridi, Harris Rauf, and Hasan Ali provides experience Pace and wicket-taking ability. Backups like Mohammad Wasim Jr. and newcomer Salman Mizara add both depth and variety. With conditions in the UAE likely to favor seamers under lights, this attack could be one of Pakistan ‘s biggest assets.

Weakness: A Fragile Middle Order

If the Top order is Pakistan ‘ s armor then the middle order is the crack that the Opponents look to exploit

• Sam Ali Agha, though consistent in terms of average, strikes at just 124 in T20Is this year, which is not ideal for a No. 4 batter.
• Hussian Talat has barley played this year raising doubts about his match  readiness
• Khushdil Shah ‘ s  poor numbers average below 15 and strike rate under 100 make his inclusion puzzling.

The only shining light is Hasan Nawaz, a youngster who has hit 27 sixes in just 14 innings since his debut. Initially tried as an Opener he has been pushed down to stabilize the middle order and could be Pakistan ‘ s  wildcard. Still with so many question marks, Pakistan ‘ s  middle overs could stall momentum, a dangerous weakness in modern T20 cricket, where teams need acceleration throughout.

Opportunities: A New Face to Shine:

The absence of stalwarts like Babar and Rizwan gives Pakistan ‘ s new crop of batters a golden chance. Farhan Ayub, Haris, and Nawaz  all have the opportunity to cement their places for the long term. Similarly, the Asia Cup is the perfect platform for young bowlers like Salman Mizara and Sufiyan Muqeem to gain experience against quality opposition. If they deliver in pressure situations, Pakistan could unearth long-term match winners.

For head coach Mike Hesson, this tournament is also a testing ground for his aggressive philosophy. If Pakistan succeeds, it could redefine their approach in T20 cricket for years to come.

Threats: Inconsistency and Tournament Pressure

As always with Pakistan, unpredictability looms large. This team has talent in abundance but its reliance on individual brilliance rather than collective stability is a potential threat. A couple of quick wickets at the top could expose the shaky middle order, leaving too much for Blowers to do. Another concern is Pakistan record in multinational tournaments. Players like Mohammad Nawaz, despite domestic success, have historically underperformed on big stages. Add to this the instance spotlight of facing India and Sri Lanka and the mental pressure could be just as decisive as skill.

Balanced but Unpredictable

Overall, the Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 squad is a mix of youth, intent and firepower. Their top order and blowing attack can rival any side but the middle-order conundrum remains unresolved. If the likes of Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub step up, Pakistan could well surprise critics. But they flatter the lack of experience and stability in the middle, which could prove costly.  Pakistan remain Cricket ‘ s engima – dangerous yet unpredictable. Their Asia Cup journey will depend on whether youthful flair can overcome middle-order fragility.