Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced a new Pakistan Squad for the forthcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, to be played in Lahore. In a surprise move, veterans Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi have been left out, with new talent and out-of-form players from the current Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 taking their place.
New Leadership and Coaching Era
The team heralds a fresh era under head coach Mike Hesson, with Salman Ali Agha as captain and Shadab Khan as his vice-captain. The leadership adjustment comes with the vision of Pakistan rebuilding with the country’s young talent and solid domestic performers.
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Top Performers and Notable Inclusions
Several powerful PSL performers have been rewarded for their work:
Sahibzada Farhan is back in the national team after a layoff of almost seven years. The 29-year-old, who is currently PSL 2025’s leading run-scorer, has scored 394 runs in 10 games at 154.50 strike.
Saim Ayub, recovering from an ankle injury picked up on the South Africa tour, also returns.
Regular pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah cut, giving the bowling department strength.
Young stars like Hassan Nawaz and Muhammad Irfan Khan have been recruited, highlighting the team’s long-term thinking.
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Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series 2025
Following is the complete 16-men Pakistan Squad for the Bangladesh series:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub
Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen Rested or Dropped
Though no formal release declares the exclusions to be permanent, not picking Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi has left everyone wondering. The selectors stressed performance-based picks, indicating a merit-over-everything approach prompted by PSL performance.
T20I Series Schedule To Be Announced
The dates for the three-match T20I series in Lahore will be determined soon. The series will be critical in determining Pakistan’s core group of players before the 2026 T20 World Cup preparations.
The new-look Pakistan Squad for the 2025 Bangladesh T20Is is a testament to a daring approach by the PCB in supporting form, young players and planning. Fans will be treated to talent galore as Pakistan starts a fresh chapter of cricket under Mike Hesson.
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