Pakistan drop stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for Bangladesh T20s

Pacer Hasan Ali returns to new-look squad for three-match series

Last updated:
2 MIN READ
Veteran Pakistan batters Babar Azam (left) and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped from the home series squad against Bangladesh.
Veteran Pakistan batters Babar Azam (left) and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped from the home series squad against Bangladesh.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Archives

Dubai: Pakistan dropped stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on Wednesday as they named a new-look squad for three home Twenty20 internationals against Bangladesh.

Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson will take charge for the first time after being appointed last week, replacing Aaqib Javed.

Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan as they look towards next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka, while with Shadab Khan as his deputy.

Pakistan recalled fast bowler Hasan Ali, who has played just one T20 international in nearly three years when he returned with expensive figures of 0-42 in three overs against Ireland in Dublin in 2024.

However, the right-arm fast bowler has forced his way back into the squad with a rich haul of 15 wickets in the Pakistan Super League while representing the Karachi Kings.

The selectors have made eight changes to the squad, which lost the series in New Zealand 4-1. Fast bowler Shaheen had played in Pakistan’s last T20 series in New Zealand in March, but batsmen Azam and Rizwan were omitted for the second consecutive T20 series after being criticised for slow scoring.

Form based selection

“The squad has been selected based on players’ performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which concludes on May 25,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.

Rizwan scored 367 runs at a strike rate of 139.54 in the PSL this season as his franchise, the Multan Sultans, suffered nine defeats in 10 games.

Babar’s Peshawar Zalmi also missed out on the playoffs for the first time in PSL history as he finished the season with 288 runs and a strike rate of 128.57.

Shaheen has taken 12 wickets for Lahore Qalandars in 10 PSL matches at an economy rate of 8.20. Opener Sahibzada Farhan earned a recall after topping the PSL batting charts with 394 runs.

Batsmen Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return after missing the New Zealand tour with injuries.

The PCB said that the series match schedule, which has been affected by a 10-day delay to the PSL, will be played on May 28, 30 and June 1 with all three matches to be held in Lahore.

Pakistan squad:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub.

Sign up for the Daily Briefing

Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox

Up Next