Pakistan selectors have dropped former captain Babar Azam from the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, starting March 11, 2026, in Dhaka.
The decision follows Babar’s underwhelming performance in the recent T20 World Cup 2026, where Pakistan exited at the Super Eight stage.
Poor T20 World Cup Form Triggers Exclusion Babar managed only 91 runs across four innings in the T20 World Cup, struggling for consistency and even being omitted from the playing XI in a key match.
Despite his strong ODI record—including an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in November 2025—the selectors prioritized recent form and team rebuilding over past achievements. In 2025 ODIs, he scored 544 runs at an average of around 34 and a strike rate of 77.16, but the T20 flop prompted the axe.
Shaheen Afridi Retains Captaincy Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue leading the side in ODIs. The squad features a mix of experienced players like wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, fast bowler Haris Rauf, all-rounder Salman Ali Agha, and emerging talents.
Notable inclusions are openers Sahibzada Farhan and others showing domestic promise.
Six Uncapped Players Called Up In a bold shake-up, the PCB included six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, Shamyl Hussain, Abrar Ahmed, and wicketkeeper Muhammad Ghazi Ghori. Several of these—Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, and Shamyl Hussain—gained exposure against England Lions in Abu Dhabi before that series was abandoned due to Middle East tensions.
Full Squad Overview The 15-man squad: 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.
Other omissions include opener Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman in some reports, signaling a broader transition.
Series Details and Implications All matches will take place at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka from March 11 to 15. This series offers Pakistan a chance to test new combinations ahead of future events, including the 2027 ODI World Cup. Babar’s exclusion marks a significant shift, sparking debate on whether it signals a temporary rest or longer-term changes amid criticism following the T20 World Cup exit.
The move reflects selectors’ intent to inject youth and fresh energy into the limited-overs setup after recent disappointments.