LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Bangladesh. The series is set to take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on May 27, 29, and 31.
All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the T20I side, while vice-captain Shadab Khan and pacer Haris Rauf have been ruled out due to injuries.
Shadab underwent successful shoulder surgery in the UK. The operation was performed on his right shoulder, which had been troubling him for some time.
Meanwhile, Rauf has been ruled out after sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring injury during the San Francisco Unicorns’ recent win over the Texas Super Kings in the ongoing 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025.
The Pakistan team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on July 16. The T20I series will kick off on July 20, followed by the second and third matches on July 22 and 24, respectively.
The two teams last met in May this year, where Pakistan completed a 3-0 clean sweep at home.
Some senior players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have not been included in the lineup. According to sources, the PCB is aiming to test bench strength and give new players a chance under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson.
The PCB selection committee stated that the squad was chosen based on players’ performances in recent domestic competitions, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL). With the T20 World Cup approaching, the series against Bangladesh will be a key opportunity to prepare and fine-tune combinations.
The PCB has also emphasized the importance of giving rest to key players and rotating the squad to avoid injuries and manage workload effectively.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20I series:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim
