Maps
Magazine

SPORTS

Babar, Shaheen Dropped as Pakistan Names New T20 Squad
PCB drops Babar, Shaheen & Rizwan from T20 squad vs Bangladesh! Agha Salman to lead as Pakistan eyes T20 World Cup 2026. Mike Hesson takes charge as new coach.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-21
Babar, Shaheen Dropped as Pakistan Names New T20 Squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a bold and refreshed squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, dropping seasoned stars Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan. The move signals a new direction as Pakistan begins preparations for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, set to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The home series, which will take place from May 28 to June 1 at Lahore’s iconic Gaddafi Stadium, will also mark the start of former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson’s tenure with Pakistan. Hesson was appointed last week, replacing Aaqib Javed.

All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been named captain for the series, stepping into the leadership role as the team undergoes a generational transition.

Shaheen, who played in the last T20 series against New Zealand in March, has been dropped despite a decent showing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he claimed 12 wickets for Lahore Qalandars in 10 games at an economy rate of 8.20. Meanwhile, Babar and Rizwan have now been omitted from two consecutive T20I squads following criticism over their strike rates.

“The squad has been selected based on players’ performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which concludes on May 25,” the PCB stated.

Sahibzada Farhan, who leads the PSL 9 batting charts with 394 runs, earns a recall, while Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return from injury. Veteran pacer Hasan Ali is back after nearly a year out due to injuries.

Pakistan Squad vs Bangladesh:

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

The T20I series will begin on May 28, with subsequent matches on May 30 and June 1, all scheduled for 8:00 PM local time at Gaddafi Stadium. Bangladesh will arrive in Lahore on May 25 and train on the 26th and 27th to prepare for the high-stakes series.

This lineup overhaul and the appointment of Mike Hesson reflect PCB’s clear intent to revamp the national team structure and performance ahead of the next global T20 challenge.

 
Tagged:

PakistanCricket

MohammadRizwan

BabarAzam

PCBUpdates

ShaheenAfridi
Share News: