Categories: Cricket

Asia Cup 2025: Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf Rested For Workload Management

Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan’s pace stars Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are set for a much-needed break to stay fresh ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE next month. The Men in Green are currently in the Caribbean for their white-ball series, but the focus is already shifting towards preparations for the big tournament.

According to Geo News, both Shaheen and Haris will be rested for the T20I Tri-Series later this month against Afghanistan and the UAE, mainly for workload management. The decision comes just a few days after Pakistan’s five-wicket defeat to the West Indies in the second ODI on August 10, which left the three-match series tied at 1-1.

- Advertisement -

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to Miss T20I Tri-Series

The Asia Cup kicks off on September 9, but the T20I Tri-Series starts earlier on August 29. For this series, Pakistan will likely feature a fresh pace attack. Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal are expected to get the call-up after showing impressive performances against Bangladesh earlier this year.

- Advertisement -

Shaheen is currently playing in the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, but he will take a short break before joining the squad in the UAE just ahead of the Asia Cup. Haris, meanwhile, is still recovering from a hamstring injury picked up during the Major Cricket League (MCL) 2025 and will skip the Tri-Series entirely to focus on recovery.

T20I Tri-Series Schedule

29 August: Afghanistan vs Pakistan
30 August: UAE vs Pakistan
1 September: UAE vs Afghanistan
2 September: Pakistan vs Afghanistan
4 September: Pakistan vs UAE
5 September: Afghanistan vs UAE
7 September: Final

Before that, Pakistan has one more ODI left on the Caribbean tour – the series decider against the West Indies on August 12 in Tarouba. The team will be aiming to end the series on a high before diving into a busy run of fixtures that includes the Tri-Series and the Asia Cup.

- Advertisement -

WI vs PAK 2nd ODI Recap

The West Indies squared the ODI series with a five-wicket win in a rain-affected second game at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Chasing a revised target of 181 in 35 overs under the DLS method, the hosts got to 184/5 in 33.2 overs.

Roston Chase anchored the innings with an unbeaten 49 off 47 balls, including two sixes and the winning boundary. Justin Greaves provided steady support at the other end. Earlier, Pakistan struggled with the bat in the rain-shortened 37-over match, managing just 171/7 after being sent in to bat first.

ALSO READ: “Why Are You Using Rajat Patidar’s Number?”: Virat Kohli To Surprised Villager

Unnati Madan

Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.