Salman Agha Appointed Captain, Shadab Named Vice-Captain
Pakistan has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with all-rounder Salman Agha named as captain and Shadab Khan as his deputy. The selection comes with notable omissions, as senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi have been dropped from the squad.
This move is particularly surprising given that newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson recently expressed interest in reintegrating Babar and Rizwan into the T20 setup.
Returning to the squad are fast bowler Hasan Ali, power-hitters Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and all-rounder Hussain Talat—selected based on their performances in the ongoing HBL PSL 10, which wraps up on May 25. This series marks Hesson’s first official assignment as Pakistan’s head coach.
Pakistan’s 16-member squad:
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
- Haris Rauf
- Hasan Ali
- Hassan Nawaz
- Hussain Talat
- Khushdil Shah
- Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Wasim Jr.
- Muhammad Irfan Khan
- Naseem Shah
- Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper)
- Saim Ayub
Revised Schedule Announced for Bangladesh Series
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also released a revised itinerary for the T20I series against Bangladesh, which will now take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from May 28 to June 1.
- 1st T20I: Wednesday, 28 May
- 2nd T20I: Friday, 30 May
- 3rd T20I: Sunday, 1 June
All matches are scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM local time. Bangladesh will arrive in Lahore on May 25, with training sessions planned for May 26 and 27.
Originally planned as a five-match series with fixtures in Faisalabad, the tour was shortened to three matches due to logistical and security considerations. The revised schedule was agreed upon following discussions between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials, including Chairman Nazmul Abedeen and President Farooq Ahmed. Both boards reaffirmed their commitment to fostering strong bilateral cricketing ties.
Saud Shakeel Backs Emerging Talent for National Call-Up
Quetta Gladiators skipper Saud Shakeel has tipped young guns Hassan Nawaz and Khawaja Nafay as future stars for Pakistan’s national side. Ahead of the PSL 10 Qualifier against Islamabad United on May 21, Saud praised the duo’s contributions during the league.
“Hassan Nawaz has been outstanding, playing a wide range of shots and playing a vital role in our wins,” Saud said. “Both he and Khawaja Nafay are very promising and have what it takes to play for Pakistan soon.”
Hassan has been a standout performer in PSL 10, currently ranked as the fifth-highest run-scorer with 317 runs from 10 matches at an average of 63.40 and a strike rate of 159.29, including two fifties and a century.
Reflecting on the Gladiators’ campaign, Saud emphasized the team’s steady progress and readiness for the upcoming knockout fixture. “We’ve played good cricket overall. There’s always room to improve. Nafay made the most of his opportunities, and while we’ve consistently played Finn Allen, we’ve yet to finalize our playing XI,” he added.
