Pakistan's preparation for the Asia Cup 2025 is in full swing in Dubai, where the team gathered at the ICC Academy for their inaugural training session on Wednesday night. At 7.25 pm, the team bus arrived, and in no time, the players were sorted into teams to start a crisp, high-intensity training session. As GulfNews reports, during the lights, one group did fielding and catch-taking drills, while senior professionals took the nets in the presence of Australian bowling coach Ashley Noffke. Haris Rauf worked the batters over with his raw speed and bounce, and Shaheen Shah Afridi was as accurate as a yorker can get. The intensity of the practice indicated a team eager to flip the script after a difficult couple of months for the national team in international cricket. Pakistan's year has been one of turmoil, with the team having secured just two wins in 11 ODIs and losing a T20I series to 10th-ranked Bangladesh. Additionally, an under-strength West Indies team, also ranked 10th in ODIs, came out on top against a full-strength Pakistan team that included Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. Also Read | Women's World Cup 2025: India Women’s Squad Revealed, Shafali Verma Left Out Babar Azam, Rizwan Not Included What was interesting was the fact that Pakistan's two big names, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, were nowhere to be seen. The strategic duo, who have been the focal point of Pakistan's batting in recent times, find no place in the T20 team set to face off in the tri-series and Asia Cup. Salman Agha, instead, has been handed the captaincy as the selectors seek to experiment and test bench strength. The squad also sees the return of Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza, who had rested for the West Indies series. For Pakistan, the tri-nation T20I tournament against Afghanistan and UAE beginning August 29 in Sharjah will also be important. It is a chance to look for new options before the Asia Cup. The Asia Cup starts on September 9, and Pakistan start their campaign against Oman on September 12 in Dubai. But the real eye on the ball is on September 14, when Pakistan take on India in a blockbuster match.