The last time Pakistan played in a multi-nation tournament, the 2025 Champions Trophy, they went winless and suffered the unforgettable humiliation of getting knocked out in the group stage of a home tournament. They have spent the last few months resetting it all and finding their feet again. Let’s analyse their Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, and Opportunities for the Asia Cup 2025 ahead of an all-important clash against India.
(Picture credit: AFP)
Strengths: Pakistan head into the Asia Cup with a side that looks strong on paper. The presence of power-hitters, reliable all-rounders like Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf, and a lethal pace attack spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf gives them the right mix for the slow but true surfaces expected in Dubai. (AP)
Moreover, Pakistan have a lot of good form behind them. They have won the last 10 of their 14 T20Is, which includes a recent tri-series trophy clincher over the UAE and Afghanistan in the same country. No other team in their group has that recent experience of the surfaces. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Weaknesses: As part of the team churn under new coach Mike Hesson, Pakistan have let go of seniors Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. In their absence, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman have all made promising starts to their careers. However, they haven’t found too many big scores in recent series. This inconsistency can be exposed against tougher and well-drilled opponents like India. (Picture credit: AFP)
Secondly, Pakistan’s record in high-pressure encounters remains a concern. Their loss to the USA at the last World Cup highlighted their vulnerability, while the Champions Trophy was a significant new low. They are a team that forgets form when it comes to multi-national tournaments and that’s one thing that opponents would like to make best use of. (PTI Photo)
Opportunities: Sahibzada Farhan and Hasan Nawaz are the two top talents who could announce them to a wider world this tournament. While Farhan has one last chance to justify the attacking license given to him and turn his starts into meaningful contributions, Nawaz has emerged as Pakistan’s most explosive and yet reliable middle-order batter, with a post-powerplay strike rate of 174 and a remarkable ability to clear the ropes under pressure. (Picture Credit: X/@TheRealPCB)
Another opportunity is building on the momentum they have to further strengthen their bid for a 2026 T20 World Cup push. A strong Asia Cup performance could boost confidence and create much-needed stability ahead of the next marquee event. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Threats: The one singular massive threat to Pakistan is everything backfiring. Hesson has changed the trajectory of the team by dropping Babar and Rizwan and trying to change the basics of the side plays. If the results don’t change in this Asia Cup or at least there is no visible improvement, it can push the team into further unstability. (AFP)
