Newly appointed Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson is reportedly pushing for the reintegration of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan into the national T20 squad, following their exclusion from the recent T20I series against New Zealand.
The senior duo, sidelined to give emerging players international exposure, are now part of Hesson’s long-term plans as Pakistan prepares for the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup. While Pakistan may test fresh talent in the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, Hesson is eager to bring Babar and Rizwan back into the fold.
Mohammad Rizwan was also removed as T20I captain after just one series, with Salman Ali Agha named his successor. However, sources indicate that Hesson, who recently met with selector Aqib Javed at PCB headquarters, views both Babar and Rizwan as potential “match-winners” who could thrive if assigned more aggressive roles with improved strike rates.
Pakistan’s next T20 assignment — a five-match home series against Bangladesh — is scheduled for later this month in Faisalabad and Lahore. The original series opener, set for May 25, now clashes with the rescheduled final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10, which resumes on May 17 after a temporary halt due to rising India-Pakistan tensions and a security incident near Rawalpindi.
To address the scheduling overlap, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent a revised itinerary to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on May 13. As per the new plan, Faisalabad will host the first three T20Is on May 27, 29, and June 1, while Lahore will stage the last two matches on June 3 and 5.
Meanwhile, the BCB has received preliminary government approval for the tour but awaits an official clearance letter. A BCB official stated, “We’ve been given the go-ahead in principle, but we are waiting for the formal letter. Once received, we’ll consult our players, some of whom have expressed concerns over security. We won’t compel anyone to travel.”
The Tigers are currently in the UAE for a two-match T20I series, set to be played on May 17 and 19, before heading to Pakistan — subject to final approval and revised logistics.
