The Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to tour the West Indies in July for a white-ball series, with an official announcement of the squads expected shortly, sources confirmed on Thursday.
According to insiders, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has concluded internal deliberations on the selection of white-ball squads for upcoming assignments. The board is currently awaiting a response from Cricket West Indies (CWI) on a proposal to convert the planned three-match ODI series into T20 Internationals (T20Is). If the proposal is accepted, a combined T20 squad could be announced for both the Bangladesh and West Indies series.
Sources close to the matter suggest that the PCB is optimistic about the change, as a full T20I series would better support preparations for the 2025 ACC Men’s Asia Cup and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The squad announcement is expected soon after formal approval is received from CWI.
Squad Outlook
While the T20 squad is likely to remain largely unchanged, left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem is expected to be included. The participation of senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi, however, remains uncertain. The selection committee remains hopeful these players will return to form, citing the successful comebacks of other international stars as motivation.
The committee has emphasized that the selection door remains open for all players, with strong performances in domestic and franchise cricket key to a national team recall. There is also a renewed focus on identifying and grooming emerging talent to meet the demands of modern T20 cricket.
As it stands, Pakistan is set to play three T20Is and three ODIs on their tour of the United States and West Indies, beginning at the end of July. The T20Is are currently scheduled for July 31, August 2, and August 3, with ODIs slated for August 8, 10, and 12—all at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. However, this itinerary may be revised pending the outcome of the PCB–CWI discussions.
Change in Selection Committee
Meanwhile, the PCB has confirmed a minor change in the national men’s selection committee. In an official statement released Wednesday, the board announced that data analyst Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi. The new analyst will assist the selection committee but will not have voting rights.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that the national selection committee remains intact,” the statement read, adding that the only adjustment was the replacement of the data analyst.
The voting members of the committee remain unchanged and include former interim head coach Aaqib Javed, former umpire Aleem Dar, and ex-cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. The committee is also required to consult with the respective team captain and head coach before finalizing squad selections.
This clarification comes amid media speculation suggesting a major overhaul of the selection panel, including the possible removal of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. Reports had linked former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and analyst Sikandar Bakht—known for his criticism of the PCB—with potential roles, but the board has officially denied any such changes at this time.
