By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appears to have permanently sidelined star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, as both were once again excluded from the 15-member squad announced on Tuesday for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The series will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on June 20, 22, and 24.
Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has also been omitted yet again, while fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Irfan Khan did not make the cut either.
In contrast, uncapped medium pacers Ahmed Daniyal and Salman Mirza have been included in the squad, which will once again be led by Salman Ali Agha. Notably, the team will have no vice-captain for this series.
The 31-year-old Salman Mirza impressed in the recently concluded PSL 10, taking nine wickets in four matches for Lahore Qalandars. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Ahmed Daniyal claimed six wickets in four games for Peshawar Zalmi.
All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz and left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem have been recalled. Nawaz last featured in a T20I against New Zealand on January 21, 2024, in Christchurch. He played four matches for Islamabad United in the last PSL, scoring 88 runs and picking up two wickets. Sufiyan last played a T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on March 26, 2025.
T20 specialist Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Major League Cricket (MCL). All-rounder Shadab Khan, who was serving as deputy to Agha Salman in previous series against New Zealand and Bangladesh, will also miss the tour following recent shoulder surgery that will keep him out for at least three months.
Pacer Hasan Ali, who made a notable return in the recent home series against Bangladesh, is also unavailable due to county commitments with Warwickshire.
The squad will undergo a brief training camp in Karachi before departing for Dhaka on July 16. Pakistan had recently whitewashed Bangladesh 3-0 in a home series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Speaking at the squad announcement, PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed stated that the team for the West Indies tour will be revealed in the coming days. “Our talks with West Indies, regarding the conversion of the three scheduled ODIs into T20Is, are in the final stages. We aim to give maximum exposure to our T20 squad with the World Cup set for early next year,” said Sumair, who was joined by PCB Director of Communications and Media, Amir Mir.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series:
Salman Ali Agha (captain)
Abrar Ahmed
Ahmed Daniyal
Faheem Ashraf
Fakhar Zaman
Hassan Nawaz
Hussain Talat
Khushdil Shah
Mohammad Abbas Afridi
Mohammad Haris (wk)
Mohammad Nawaz
Sahibzada Farhan (wk)
Saim Ayub
Salman Mirza
Sufiyan Muqeem
Team Officials:
Naveed Akram Cheema (Manager)
Mike Hesson (Head Coach)
Ashley Noffke (Bowling Coach)
Muhammad Hanif Malik (Batting Coach)
Shane McDermott (Fielding Coach)
Cliffe Deacon (Physiotherapist)
Grant Luden (Strength & Conditioning Coach)
Talha Ejaz (Analyst)
Syed Naeem Ahmad (Media Manager)
Irtaza Komail (Security Manager)
Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (Team Doctor)
Muhammad Ehsan (Masseur)
