The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, making headlines with the omission of star batter Babar Azam and all-rounder Saim Ayub. The announcement signals a significant shift in team strategy ahead of the March fixtures.
Squad Announcement and Leadership
According to the PCB statement issued on Wednesday, all three One-Day Internationals will be played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from March 11 to 15.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side. This series marks his second ODI assignment as captain, following a successful 2-1 home series win against South Africa during his first stint in charge.
Notably, former ODI captain Babar Azam and promising all-rounder Saim Ayub have been left out of the squad, a decision that has generated considerable discussion among fans and analysts.
Six Uncapped Players Included
The squad features six uncapped players, indicating the selectors’ focus on building bench strength and testing new talent. The newcomers are:
- Abdul Samad
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori
- Saad Masood
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Shamyl Hussain
Among them, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, and Shamyl Hussain recently represented Pakistan Shaheens in a series against England Lions in Abu Dhabi, gaining valuable exposure at the competitive level.
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Recent ODI Form
Pakistan last played an ODI series in November, hosting Sri Lanka and completing a dominant 3-0 clean sweep. The Bangladesh tour will test the new-look squad’s depth and adaptability in subcontinental conditions.
Full 15-Member Squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, and Shamyl Hussain.
Series Schedule
- March 11 – First ODI, Dhaka
- March 13 – Second ODI, Dhaka
- March 15 – Third ODI, Dhaka
Key Takeaway: The exclusion of senior players and inclusion of fresh talent highlights Pakistan’s intent to experiment and strengthen its ODI bench ahead of future international commitments.
