(From left to proper) India’s Axar Patel, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha and Afghanistan’s AM Ghazanfar. — AFP/YouTube@ACBofficial/File
With the 2025 Asia Cup simply across the nook, cricket fraternity eagerly awaits enthralling matches within the match set to be held within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to twenty-eight.
Eight groups will compete for a single trophy within the fast-paced T20 format, marking a return to the shorter model after the final version was performed in ODIs.
Sri Lanka will defend its title, having defeated Pakistan by 22 runs within the 2022 last to assert their sixth Asia Cup and their first in T20Is.
Past fixtures and venues, it’s the gamers who will form this 12 months’s match. From established stars to rising abilities, listed here are the gamers to observe within the 2025 Asia Cup.
Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s skipper Salman Ali Agha celebrates throughout a match in opposition to South Africa at Boland Park on December 17, 2024. — AFP
Making his Asia Cup debut as captain, 31-year-old all-rounder Salman Ali Agha shall be a pivotal determine for Pakistan.
Batting on the essential No 4 place, beforehand dominated by Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, Agha can anchor innings or end aggressively, including important stability to the center order.
In his transient profession, he has scored over 450 runs at a mean of 29 with a strike charge of 118, exhibiting each promise and impression in Asian circumstances.
Axar Patel (India)
India’s Axar Patel celebrates throughout a match on this undated picture. — AFP/File
India will depend on Axar Patel’s all-round skills within the UAE. The 31-year-old was instrumental in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning marketing campaign, contributing with each bat and ball.
He scored an important 47 off 31 balls within the last earlier than a run-out ended his innings and in addition picked up a key wicket at an important second.
With UAE circumstances favouring spin, Axar’s expertise and talent shall be a significant X-factor.
He has already taken 71 wickets at an financial system of seven.3 and scored 535 runs at a strike charge of 140 in T20Is, highlighting his potential to affect matches in each disciplines.
 AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan)
Afghanistan’s AM Ghazanfar celebrates after taking a wicket. — Screengrab by way of YouTube@ACBofficial
Younger Afghan spin sensation AM Ghazanfar is again for the Asia Cup after lacking the 2025 Champions Trophy because of damage.
Regardless of having solely performed one T20I, Ghazanfar has two five-wicket hauls in 11 ODIs, drawing consideration from cricket specialists worldwide.
The 19-year-old additionally impressed within the 2024 U-19 World Cup and T20 Blast, incomes a US$570,000 contract with the Mumbai Indians within the 2025 IPL public sale.
Though he missed the IPL because of damage, his variations, talent, and composure make him one of the crucial thrilling younger abilities within the match.
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga delivers a bowl throughout a match in opposition to England on the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE. — Reuters/File
Sri Lanka’s ace leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga might show deadly within the UAE’s dry, low-bounce circumstances.
Though he missed Sri Lanka’s current sequence in opposition to Zimbabwe because of damage, he’s anticipated to be match for the Asia Cup.
Hasaranga loved a stellar 2024, ending as Sri Lanka’s main wicket-taker in T20Is with 38 scalps.
He additionally performed a key function in Sri Lanka’s 2022 Asia Cup triumph, scoring 36 off 21 balls and taking three essential wickets.
Followers shall be wanting to see if he can replicate his match-winning performances this 12 months.
Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain bowls throughout Males’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 in a match in opposition to Afghanistan at Arnos Vale Floor on June 24, 2024. — AFP
At 23, Rishad Hossain is one among Bangladesh’s most promising bowlers. He was the sixth-highest wicket-taker within the 2024 T20 World Cup, claiming 14 wickets in seven video games, a report for a Bangladeshi bowler.
In 40 T20Is, he has 48 wickets at a strike charge of 16.7 and a mean simply over 22. Hossain additionally excelled in PSL 10 with Lahore Qalandars, taking 9 wickets at a mean of 16.44 and an financial system charge of 5.78.
His wicket-taking potential and knack for constructing strain make him a real X-factor.
Muhammad Waseem (UAE)
UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem walks off after being dismissed through the Australia 2022 T20 World Cup cricket match match between Netherlands and UAE at Kardinia Park, in Geelong, on October 16, 2022. — AFP
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem enters the match having damaged the report for many sixes by a captain in T20Is, surpassing former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.
In 80 T20I innings, he has scored 2,859 runs at a mean of 38 and a strike charge of 156, rivalling international power-hitters. Waseem’s fearless method and skill to dominate from the beginning make him a significant menace to opposition bowlers.
With a mix of seasoned match-winners and rising stars, the 2025 Asia Cup guarantees pleasure and unpredictability, offering groups a strong platform to organize for the 2026 Males’s T20 World Cup.
Jatinder Singh (Oman)
Oman’s Jatinder Singh of Oman performs a shot through the Males’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Zimbabwe 2023 match in opposition to Sri Lanka at Queen’s Sports activities Membership on June 23, 2023 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. — ICC
Oman will make their Asia Cup debut, led by 36-year-old captain Jatinder Singh.
The highest-order batter has scored 1,399 runs in T20Is at a mean of 24 and a strike charge of 118. His stability and temperament will largely decide Oman’s efficiency of their first Asia Cup.
Babar Hayat (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong’s Babar Hayat pictured throughout a Asia Cup T20 match in opposition to India in Dubai on August 31, 2022. — ICC
Babar Hayat is one among solely two batters to attain a century in Asia Cup T20 historical past.
The dynamic batter shall be essential for Hong Kong, having amassed over 2,200 T20I runs and standing because the second-highest scorer for his nation within the format.
With a profession strike charge exceeding 130 and powerful method in opposition to spin, Hong Kong’s vice-captain may very well be key to their success within the UAE.
