Lahore, March 4, 2026: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been dropped from the national squad for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against Bangladesh, despite scoring a century in his most recent ODI appearance.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for the three-match series, which begins next week in Dhaka. Babar had scored an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in November in his last ODI series but failed to find form during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, where he managed just 91 runs in four innings as Pakistan were eliminated at the Super Eight stage.
Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed captain for the series.
In a significant reshuffle, the selectors have included six uncapped players in the squad, including Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood and Shamyl Hussain. The quartet had featured against the England Lions in Abu Dhabi before that series was called off due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The move signals a transition phase for the national side, with the PCB opting to test new talent ahead of a busy international calendar.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh ODIs
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain)
- Abdul Samad
- Abrar Ahmed
- Faheem Ashraf
- Faisal Akram
- Haris Rauf
- Hussain Talat
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Wasim Junior
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper)
- Saad Masood
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Shamyl Hussain
The series against Bangladesh is expected to provide an opportunity for emerging players to stake their claim, while also testing Pakistan’s bench strength in the 50-over format.
