Karachi, July 14, 2025: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha on Monday reaffirmed that senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi remain integral to Pakistan’s plans for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Pakistan’s white-ball training camp ahead of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh (July 20–24) in Dhaka, Agha addressed concerns over the trio’s recent absence from national selection.
“Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen are senior players and are very much part of our 25-member core group for the World Cup,” Agha said. “We are building bench strength and want to ensure that any player can step up when needed, but these three remain in our plans.”
Babar and Rizwan last featured in T20Is during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in December 2024, while Shaheen was part of the squad that toured New Zealand in March 2025. Their absence from recent series had triggered speculation about their T20I future, but Agha’s remarks aimed to put such doubts to rest.
“As part of our roadmap, we’ve shortlisted 25 players who will be rotated and tested in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup,” Agha explained. “That includes Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen.”
Agha also addressed the inclusion of Mohammad Nawaz in the squad for the Bangladesh tour, a selection that has drawn criticism due to Nawaz’s recent dip in form, particularly in domestic cricket and the past two seasons of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Defending the decision, Agha clarified that Nawaz was picked as a like-for-like replacement for Shadab Khan, Pakistan’s vice-captain and primary spin-bowling all-rounder, who is currently sidelined following shoulder surgery in the United Kingdom. Shadab is expected to be out of action for up to three months.
“Performance can fluctuate, but it’s important to consider a player’s overall ability and experience,” said Agha. “Nawaz fits the role in Shadab’s absence.”
Looking ahead to the Bangladesh series, Agha acknowledged the challenges of playing in subcontinental conditions and said the Karachi-based training camp was specifically designed to simulate match conditions.
“We’re aware that Bangladesh is a tough side in home conditions. That’s why we trained in Karachi — to prepare in similar weather and pitch conditions,” he added. “We are going into the series well-prepared and confident.”
