Pakistan has unveiled a revamped 15-member squad for its upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, with star pacer Haris Rauf ruled out due to injury and several senior players rested. The three-match series will be held in Dhaka from July 20 to 24, and will be led by Salman Ali Agha, marking a significant shift in team dynamics post-T20 World Cup 2024.
Haris Rauf, who was recently active in Major League Cricket (MLC) with San Francisco Unicorns, sustained a Grade 1 hamstring injury and has been sidelined for the tour. Adding to the team’s woes, all-rounder Shadab Khan is also unavailable following recent shoulder surgery in the UK.
In a surprising move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) opted to rest big names including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali (who is committed to county cricket), and young pacers Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim Jr. The decision signals a transitional phase as Pakistan experiments with fresh talent.
Among the notable inclusions is fast bowler Salman Mirza, who has earned his maiden national call-up. The squad also features a mix of experience and youth, including Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, and the explosive opener Saim Ayub. Wicketkeeping duties will be shared between Mohammad Haris and Sahibzada Farhan.
The full squad is as follows: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.
The team is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on July 16, with the T20Is slated for July 20, 22, and 24 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
