In a surprising move ahead of their three-match T20 International series against Bangladesh, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a new-look squad, notably omitting prominent figures Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The decision, confirmed by the PCB today, is reportedly based on player performances in the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, which concludes on May 25th. Salman Ali Agha will captain the side, with Shadab Khan serving as his deputy.
The dropping of star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan comes after they faced criticism for their relatively slow scoring rates in recent T20 internationals, and they were also excluded from the preceding T20 series against New Zealand. Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, despite having played in the New Zealand series, has also been left out.
This series marks the first assignment for newly appointed white-ball head coach Mike Hesson. The PCB stated that the selection aims to give opportunities to a mix of youth and experienced players who have performed well in the PSL.
Notable inclusions in the 16-member squad are pacer Hasan Ali, all-rounder Hussain Talat, and opener Sahibzada Farhan, who has been a top run-scorer in the PSL. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, who were sidelined due to injuries, also make their return to the national side.
The three-match T20I series against Bangladesh will be played entirely at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with matches scheduled for May 28th, May 30th, and June 1st. All games are set to begin at 8:00 PM local time. Bangladesh is expected to arrive in Lahore on May 25th to prepare for the series.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20Is:
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
- Haris Rauf
- Hasan Ali
- Hassan Nawaz
- Hussain Talat
- Khushdil Shah
- Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Muhammad Irfan Khan
- Naseem Shah
- Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper)
- Saim Ayub
