Pakistan announces T20I squad for Bangladesh series
Pakistan Announces T20I Squad, a 16-member men’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, set to be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Salman Ali Agha retains the captaincy, with Shadab Khan as his deputy, as the side prepares for its first assignment under new head coach Mike Hesson.
Squad for Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20Is
Below is the 16-man roster as Pakistan announces T20I Squad, arranged in alphabetical order:
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Salman Ali Agha (c) | All-rounder |
| Shadab Khan (vc) | All-rounder |
| Abrar Ahmed | Spinner |
| Faheem Ashraf | All-rounder |
| Fakhar Zaman | Opener |
| Haris Rauf | Fast bowler |
| Hasan Ali | Fast bowler |
| Hassan Nawaz | Batsman |
| Hussain Talat | All-rounder |
| Khushdil Shah | Batsman |
| Mohammad Haris (wk) | Wicket-keeper |
| Mohammad Wasim Jnr | All-rounder |
| Muhammad Irfan Khan | Spinner |
| Naseem Shah | Fast bowler |
| Sahibzada Farhan (wk) | Wicket-keeper |
| Saim Ayub | Opener |
Veteran trio absent from Bangladesh series
Notably, the PCB has opted to rest three of its established stars, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi from this T20I assignment. All three were captains of their respective franchises in PSL X but failed to live up to billing:
- Babar Azam: 288 runs in 10 PSL matches at an average of 28.8
- Mohammad Rizwan: 367 runs in 10 matches at an average of 36.7, including an unbeaten 105
- Shaheen Afridi: 11 wickets in 10 games, averaging just 1.1 wickets per match
Selectors have emphasized that these decisions are geared towards rewarding current form and broadening the talent pool ahead of future ICC events.
PSL form shapes selection
The squad was chosen primarily on performances during HBL PSL X, which concludes on 25 May. Key reasons for inclusion:
- Salman Ali Agha: Led United to crucial wins
- Shadab Khan (C): Led Islamabad United to wins and was Consistent with wicket-taking and handy lower-order hitting.
- Fakhar Zaman & Saim Ayub: Return from injury with solid T20 track records
- Haris Rauf & Naseem Shah: Proven death-over specialists for Pakistan
New faces like Abrar Ahmed and Muhammad Irfan Khan have impressed with the ball, while Hassan Nawaz and Khushdil Shah offer fresh batting options in the middle order.
What to expect in Lahore T20Is
- Home advantage: Gaddafi Stadium’s pitches favor seamers early on, spinners during middle overs, setting up a balanced contest.
- Coach’s debut: Mike Hesson’s strategic nous will be under scrutiny as he integrates youth with experience.
- Bangladesh challenge: The visitors have shown grit in recent subcontinental tours; expect a spirited Pakistan vs Bangladesh clash.
Pakistan announces T20I Squad. PCB will announce the detailed match schedule soon. Fans can look forward to high-octane cricket as Pakistan looks to fine-tune its white-ball combinations and reward emerging talent in the green shirt.
Stay tuned to Khelo Pakistan for updates, match previews and expert analysis as Pakistan prepares for the Bangladesh T20I series.
