In a bold shake-up ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan has left out star trio Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from its squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, opting instead for a younger, performance-based lineup.
The series, which will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from May 28 to June 1, marks the beginning of a new era under newly-appointed head coach Mike Hesson. The former New Zealand boss replaces Aaqib Javed and will oversee his first assignment in charge of Pakistan’s national side.
PCB backs PSL form as selection criteria
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made it clear that recent domestic form dictated the selections.
“The squad has been selected based on players’ performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which concludes on May 25,” the PCB said in a statement.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan leads the list of form-based call-ups after emerging as the top run-scorer in the PSL with 394 runs. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman also return to the squad, having missed the previous series in New Zealand due to injury. On the bowling front, Hasan Ali is back in the frame after a year-long injury layoff.
Shaheen, Babar and Rizwan left out amid shift in approach
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion raised eyebrows given his participation in Pakistan’s last T20 series in March against New Zealand. However, the decisions to omit Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan appear more strategic.
Both batters have now been left out for the second consecutive T20I series, following growing criticism over their strike rates and perceived inability to accelerate in the shortest format.
The squad will be captained by middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha as Pakistan continues its transition phase in preparation for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Revised series schedule announced after regional tensions
Originally expected to take place earlier, the Bangladesh series was delayed due to a ten-day postponement in the PSL caused by regional conflict between India and Pakistan. The PCB has now confirmed that all three matches will be held in Lahore and begin at 8 PM local time.
Bangladesh will arrive in Pakistan on May 25, with training sessions scheduled for May 26 and 27 before the series begins on May 28. The remaining matches are slated for May 30 and June 1.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20Is
- 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
With Pakistan choosing to pivot toward form players from the PSL and a more aggressive brand of T20 cricket, the upcoming Bangladesh series will be a key test of the new direction under Mike Hesson’s leadership. All eyes will be on how the refreshed squad performs — and whether the changes signal a lasting generational shift in Pakistan’s white-ball strategy.
🚨 Pakistan squad announced for Bangladesh T20I series in Lahore 🚨
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 21, 2025
More details: https://t.co/kTip0kPkpd#PAKvBAN | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/GUcPCU1GH4
🚨 Revised schedule for the Pakistan 🇵🇰 🆚 Bangladesh 🇧🇩 T20I series 🏏
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 21, 2025
The first match takes place on 28 May 🗓️
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/pt346yawjv#PAKvBAN | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/HAlI8BiaGz
