Pakistan vs UAE: Squad Changes as Hasan Ali, Salman Mirza Replace Shaheen, Haris Rauf in T20 Tri-Series

Updated On: September 27, 2025

Pakistan vs UAE: Squad Changes as Hasan Ali, Salman Mirza Replace Shaheen, Haris Rauf in T20 Tri-Series

Pakistan Bat First Against UAE with Key Squad Changes

Toss Result: Pakistan chose to bat against UAE in the second match of the tri-series

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha made the decision to bat first after winning the toss against the UAE in their second match of the ongoing T20I tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This marks the second consecutive match where Pakistan have opted to set a target, looking to strengthen their position in the tournament.

Major Team Changes for Pakistan

The Pakistani management has made two significant changes to their playing eleven for this crucial encounter. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have been rested, with Hasan Ali and Salman Mirza coming into the squad. These changes come barely 24 hours after their previous match against Afghanistan.

The decision to rest Shaheen and Haris appears tactical, giving the pace duo adequate recovery time. Haris Rauf was particularly impressive in Pakistan’s opening match victory, claiming four wickets and playing a crucial role in Afghanistan’s collapse during their chase. His outstanding figures of 4/31 included a double-wicket maiden that sealed the victory for Pakistan.

Tournament Context and Significance

This tri-series serves as important preparation for all participating teams ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 9. The tournament features Pakistan, Afghanistan, and hosts UAE competing in a round-robin format before the final.

Pakistan made a strong start to their campaign by defeating Afghanistan by 39 runs in the opening match on Friday. Captain Salman Ali Agha led from the front with an unbeaten half-century, rescuing Pakistan from a precarious position at 83/4 to help them post a competitive total of 182/7.

UAE’s Challenge Ahead

Muhammad Waseem leads the UAE side as they begin what promises to be an unusually busy month. The hosts face four matches in the coming week before joining Pakistan, India, and Hong Kong in the upcoming Asia Cup. UAE will be looking to capitalize on home conditions and pull off an upset against the stronger Pakistani outfit.

This represents only the second T20I encounter between these two nations, with Pakistan having won their previous meeting by seven wickets during the 2016 Asia Cup in Mirpur. However, UAE recently demonstrated their capabilities by defeating Bangladesh in a T20I series at home earlier this year.

Squad Details

Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (captain), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem

UAE Playing XI: Muhammad Waseem (captain), Muhammad Zohaib, Asif Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra (wicket-keeper), Ethan D’Souza, Dhruv Parashar, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawad, Junaid Siddique

The match represents another opportunity for Pakistan to test their squad depth while maintaining momentum in the tri-series. With the Asia Cup fast approaching, both teams will be eager to fine-tune their combinations and build confidence through strong performances at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.