Against Bangladesh, Babar, Rizwan And Shaheen Were Dropped And New Players Were Given A Chance

 

Photo: ESPNCricInfo

Following their poor performance in the T20 World Cup and subsequent early exit, the Pakistan cricket team is set to undergo significant changes for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh. This series, part of the ICC Test Championship, will likely feature new and young players as part of a rebuilding effort.

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, has indicated that fresh talent will be given opportunities in the squad. Consequently, the selection committee, in consultation with Test team captain Shan Masood and coach Jason Gillespie, is considering several changes.

Fast bowlers such as Shahnawaz Dahani, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, and Mir Hamza are being considered for inclusion, alongside Naseem Shah. Haris Rauf is not expected to be part of the squad, and Shaheen Afridi might be rested for the Test series to manage his workload.

There are also discussions regarding the captaincy of the T20 and ODI teams, with Babar Azam's role potentially under review. For the Test series, Shan Masood is reportedly keen to have former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as the wicketkeeper instead of Mohammad Rizwan.

Key players like Abdullah Shafique, Salman Ali Agha, and Saud Shakeel are expected to be part of the final playing XI against Bangladesh.

These changes are part of a broader strategy to improve team performance and build a more cohesive and competitive unit for future tournaments.