Pakistan Announces T20I Squad for Bangladesh Series Under New Coach Mike Hesson

Pakistan's New Squad for T20I Series

Pakistan has revealed a 16-member squad for their upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, marking the start of Mike Hesson's role as head coach. This series will be Hesson's inaugural assignment since he took over the national team, as stated on the ICC's official website.

Several prominent players are notably absent from the squad, including former captain Babar Azam, experienced wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, and leading fast bowler Shaheen Afridi. They will miss the three-match series set to take place in Lahore.

Impact of Captaincy Changes on Babar Azam

Babar Azam's recent struggles with form have been linked to his frequent changes in captaincy. After resigning from his captaincy role across all formats following the ODI World Cup 2023, Shaheen Afridi briefly took over. However, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain just before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

After the tournament, Babar stepped down again, marking his second resignation within a single year.

New Leadership and Squad Composition

Salman Ali Agha will lead the team, with all-rounder Shadab Khan serving as his deputy. The squad also includes seasoned white-ball players such as Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah.

Despite their experience, Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen were excluded from the squad, which was selected based on performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.

The series will be the first under the guidance of new coach Mike Hesson, with the schedule expected to be announced shortly.

Complete Pakistan T20I Squad

The selected players are as follows: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub.