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Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan is expected to miss the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE, as he continues recovering from a shoulder injury that required surgery earlier this month.
The 26-year-old underwent a successful procedure in the United Kingdom after sustaining the injury, which had already ruled him out of the recent T20I series against Bangladesh and the upcoming tour of the West Indies.
Sources say Shadab will need at least three months of rehabilitation before returning to action, making it unlikely he will be fit in time for the Asia Cup, which starts on September 9.
So far, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not named a replacement vice-captain.
No deputy was announced for the Bangladesh series or the current West Indies tour, where Salman Ali Agha continues to lead the side without an official second-in-command.
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There has also been no official word from the PCB on Shadab’s recovery progress or his expected return date.
Meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has released the Asia Cup 2025 schedule, which will be played in the T20 format as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The tournament will run from September 9 to 28, featuring eight teams in two groups:
Group A: Pakistan, India, UAE, Oman
Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong
Pakistan will open their campaign against Oman on September 12, followed by a highly anticipated match against India on September 14.
If both teams qualify for the Super Four, another India-Pakistan clash is set for September 21, with the final on September 28.
