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July 10, 2025

Frontline stars ignored again as Pakistan name squad for Bangladesh T20Is

Frontline stars ignored again as Pakistan name squad for Bangladesh T20Is
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The Pakistan Cricket Board has again disregarded senior white-ball players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi by naming a 15-player squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with Salman Ali Agha remaining as captain.

 

Selecting youth and form rather than experience and players with track records, selectors remarked about recent performances in the PSL as a means of evaluation, in advance of the 2026 T20 World Cup. 

 

Vice-captain Shadab Khan and fast-bowler Haris Rauf were reported by Dawn as ruled out due to continuous injury - Shadab reported recovering from surgery, and Rauf hamstrung.

 

Uncapped pace bowlers Ahmed Daniyal and Salman Mirza have been recalled based on their exceptional PSL performance, while spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Sufyan Muqeem have also been added to offer more bowling depth.

 

Critics claim that excluding established performers such as Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen can destabilise Pakistan's batting and bowling nucleus, with experts asking for a balance between the development of young players and maintaining match-winning experience.

 

Favouring the shift is the argument that this is a chance to make a robust bench for the World Cup. Pakistan is looking to create a reservoir of 20–25 players who can step in at any time.

 

Pakistan will meet in Karachi on July 10 and travel to Dhaka, where the first T20I will take place on July 20 at Sher‑e‑Bangla National Stadium. 

 

These matches will be an early marker for new coach Mike Hesson, who has called for decision-making based on current domestic form, with a focus on the long-term strategy for the team. 

 

With veteran absences continuing, all eyes will be on the emerging players and whether the current strategy can translate into wins and World Cup preparedness (before the tournament planned for February–March 2026). 

 

Pakistan's bold re-design reflects a clear strategy: to support recent form, bring young players in, and build a new era in preparation for the T20 World Cup. Whether this pays off will be evident from July 20 when Pakistan step on the field with a new team in Dhaka.


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