Asia Cup 2018: Teams, format, squads and everything you need to know

Pakistan

Pakistan is ranked fifth in the ICC ODI rankings and among top contenders for the trophy

After facing a 0-5 clean sweep at the hands of the Kiwis on their tour of New Zealand. Pakistan came back strongly as they won each of their five matches against Sri Lanka in the UAE.

While their last ODI assignment came in Zimbabwe where they whitewashed the hosts 5-0. Pakistan is ranked Fifth in the ICC ODI rankings and among top contenders for the trophy.

Batting: Fakhar Zaman was the highest run-scorer in the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe where he cracked two centuries and as many fifties in five matches and will be eager to prove his worth against the Asian giants as well.

While Shoaib Malik has scored the most runs in ODIs for Pakistan from this current squad and he is the most experienced batsman in the side. Except these two the team will also bank on the likes of skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam. All of them forms a formidable batting lineup.

Bowling: Pakistan's bowling group looks settled with the likes of Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan.

Hasan is third on the ICC ODI rankings for bowlers while leg-spinner Shadab was a pick of the lot in the Zimbabwe series with nine wickets and will be expected to take the momentum into the Asian Pinnacle tournament.

Squad : Sarfraz Ahmed (C), Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Imam ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan, Usman Shinwari and Shaheen Afridi.