In a bold move signaling a shift toward youth, Pakistan have announced a 16-member squad for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh — notably without senior stars Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Salman Ali Agha retains the captaincy, with all-rounder Shadab Khan named vice-captain. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clarified that the selection was based largely on performances in the ongoing HBL PSL X, which wraps up on May 25.
The upcoming series will mark the first assignment for newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson, adding further intrigue to the new-look side. All three matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, though the exact dates are yet to be confirmed.
Originally planned as a five-match tour, Bangladesh’s visit has now been trimmed to three T20Is. The revised schedule comes as both boards adjust for player workloads and upcoming global tournaments.
The decision to rest veterans like Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen is part of a growing trend by the PCB to groom younger players. Both Babar and Rizwan have not featured in T20Is since December 2024.
Pakistan T20I Squad vs Bangladesh:
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 (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub.