In a move that marks the beginning of a new chapter for Pakistan cricket Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh – a squad that notably left out the former captain Babar Azam.
Wednesday’s announcement follows Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and marks one of the most dramatic squad changes in recent years. What really caught everyone’s attention was the inclusion of six vacant players, underscoring the selectors’ intent to rebuild with fresh talent.
Shaheen Afridi Despite Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup in the Super Eights, he will continue to lead the ODI side. The left-arm pacer retains his captaincy as the team looks to move forward with a revamped squad. Experienced players like Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Salman Ali Agha provide a sense of continuity as part of the team. However, the absence of Babar Azam – perhaps Pakistan’s most successful active ODI batsman – stunned fans and pundits alike, marking the first time in his career that he has been dropped from the ODI set-up.
The young center has a place in Pakistan’s ODI squad for the tour of Bangladesh
The selectors have clearly chosen to invest in youth, handing out their first call-ups to six players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamil Hussain. Several of these players recently featured for Pakistan Falcons against England Lions in Abu Dhabi, giving them valuable exposure against strong opposition.
Among the newcomers, Sahibzade Farhan stands out after a sensational T20 World Cup campaign. The explosive opener finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer, amassing 383 runs in six innings at an incredible average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.25. He also made history by becoming the first player to score two centuries in one innings in the tournament. Another promising name is Maaz Sadagat, who impressed in the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup. The young all-rounder topped the run charts with 258 runs in five innings while maintaining an amazing strike rate of around 178 and he also contributed with seven wickets.
Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman misses out due to an injury sustained during the T20 World Cup 2026, while the likes of Saim Ayub, Haseebullah, Mohammad Nawaz and Naseem Shah are also ruled out. The fast attack will be led by Shahin Afridi and Haris Raufwith Muhammad Wasim Jr providing additional support. Abrar Ahmed and Faisal Akram are expected to add variety in the spin department.
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Pakistan will travel to Dhaka on March 8 before the ODI series against Bangladesh, while training is scheduled for March 10. All the three matches will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on March 11, 13 and 15. The tour comes less than a year after Pakistan last visited Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s 15-man ODI squad
Shahin Shah Afridi (Captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Fahim Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Rizwan (Goalkeeper), Muhammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (Goalkeeper, Masaldzaib Shahid), Salman Ali Agha, Shamil Hussain
