Karachi, March 9, 2026: Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has addressed the omission of star batter and former captain Babar Azam from the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against the Bangladesh national cricket team, clarifying that the move is part of a broader plan to test emerging talent rather than a traditional “dropping” of a senior player.
The ODI series between Pakistan national cricket team and Bangladesh will begin on March 11, with the remaining matches scheduled for March 13 and March 15. All three games will be played at the iconic Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
The squad announcement sparked widespread discussion among fans and analysts, primarily due to the absence of Babar Azam, one of Pakistan’s most prolific batters in the ODI format.
However, speaking to the media ahead of the series, Hesson stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as a player being dropped. Instead, he described it as a strategic opportunity to evaluate promising players who have been performing consistently in domestic cricket and with the Pakistan Shaheens.
“I don’t think anyone particularly was dropped,” Hesson said.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to look at some younger talent. We get very few opportunities in the calendar to give a number of promising players opportunities.”
He added that the packed international schedule often makes it difficult to experiment with new combinations, as teams are usually preparing for or competing in major tournaments.
“You are either heading into a pinnacle event or just coming out of one, so these windows are rare. This series allows us to see how some players perform at the international level,” he explained.
Hesson highlighted several players who have impressed in domestic competitions and in performances for Pakistan Shaheens, noting that the Bangladesh series provides them a platform to prove themselves.
Among them is Sahibzada Farhan, who recently delivered an outstanding performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and has also been a consistent performer in domestic 50-over cricket.
The coach also pointed to rising talents such as Shamyl Hussain and Maaz Sadaqat.
“Shamyl Hussain is an exciting talent. He was the highest run-scorer in first-class cricket and exceptional in List A cricket. Maaz Sadaqat has been around the fringes for a while. These players have been waiting for an opportunity and this series gives them a chance to show how good they are,” Hesson said.
Despite his absence from the squad, Babar Azam remains one of Pakistan’s most successful ODI batters in recent history. The 31-year-old has amassed 6,501 runs in 140 ODI matches, maintaining an impressive average of 53.72, which includes 37 half-centuries and 20 centuries.
His most recent ODI appearance came during Pakistan’s home series against the Sri Lanka national cricket team. In that series, he scored 29 runs in the first match, followed by an unbeaten 102 in the second ODI, and 34 runs in the final game.
The Bangladesh series is expected to serve as a testing ground for Pakistan’s bench strength, allowing the team management to assess new combinations and identify potential future regulars in the ODI setup.
With a demanding international calendar ahead, the management believes giving emerging players exposure now will strengthen Pakistan’s squad depth and help build a more competitive side for upcoming global events.
