Six Uncapped Players Called Up as Shaheen Afridi Retains Captaincy
In a significant overhaul, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, with the notable exclusions of former captain Babar Azam and all-rounder Saim Ayub.
The series, scheduled to be played entirely at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka from March 11 to 15, will see left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi continue as the ODI captain. The selection panel has opted for a youth-centric approach, naming six uncapped players in the squad.
New Faces and Notable Absences
The uncapped players selected are:
- Abdul Samad
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper)
- Saad Masood
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Shamyl Hussain
Four of these newcomers—Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, and Shamyl Hussain—were recently part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad that faced England Lions in Abu Dhabi.
The omission of Babar Azam, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting lineup and the team’s leading run-scorer in the format, marks a bold move by the selectors. All-rounder Saim Ayub has also been left out as the team looks to build towards the future.
Series Context and Full Squad
This series will be Pakistan’s first ODI assignment since they swept Sri Lanka 3-0 at home in November last year. It represents Shaheen Afridi’s second series as permanent ODI captain, following a 2-1 home victory over South Africa in late 2024.
The full 15-member squad is as follows:
- 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
- Shamyl Hussain
Series Schedule
- March 11: First ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
- March 13: Second ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
- March 15: Third ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
