The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday unveiled a new-look 15-man ODI squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh in Dhaka, with no place for Babar Azam, and Shaheen Shah Afridi continues as captain, reports Daily Sun.
Off-form Babar Azam has been given a break as the right-hander is playing the domestic T20 tournament (National T20 Cup 2026) in Pakistan. Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi will marshal this inexperienced side, which includes six uncapped players.
T20 World Cup’s top run scorer, Sahibzada Farhan, will debut in the 50-overs format during this Bangladesh series. A total of six uncapped players are in the squad: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, and Shamyl Hussain.
Four of them, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, and Shamyl Hussain, recently featured for Pakistan Shaheens against England Lions in Abu Dhabi, impressing selectors with composed performances.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan headlines the experienced core, alongside pacemen Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Hussain Talat.
Successful World Cup campaigner, Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm spinner Faisal Akram add variety to the bowling attack, while Salman Ali Agha strengthens the middle order.
The first ODI will be played on 11 March, followed by the second on 13 March and the third on 15 March, all under the lights in Mirpur.
The full squad reads: 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.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
