Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem Likely to Rejoin Squad
Pakistan is expected to make two notable changes to its national squad for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled for July.
According to sources, left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem are likely to be recalled for the three-match series.
Shaheen last played in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in March, where he struggled to make an impact—claiming just two wickets in four games with an economy rate of 10.23. In contrast, Sufiyan impressed in his lone appearance during the same series, taking two wickets at an economy rate of just 3.00.
Meanwhile, discussions around Babar Azam’s return to the squad are ongoing, with reports suggesting he has been assured of future opportunities with the national team.
The preliminary itinerary for the tour has been finalized. As per sources, Pakistan will arrive in Dhaka on July 18. The three T20Is are scheduled for July 20, 22, and 24, all to be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.
This bilateral series is not part of the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) and has been arranged following meetings between senior officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), held on the sidelines of ICC Champions Trophy preparations. Pakistan is set to host the tournament later this year.
The tour follows a strong showing by Pakistan’s white-ball team under the new leadership of head coach Mike Hesson, the former New Zealand coach, who led them to a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Bangladesh earlier this year — their first home series win since December 2021.
Shaheen Meets Hesson in Training Camp
On the second day of Pakistan’s national training camp in Lahore, seven players took part in the morning session, including Shaheen Afridi, Abdullah Shafique, Mehran Mumtaz, Khurram Shehzad, Haider Ali, Khawaja Nafi, and Ahmad Daniyal. Afternoon sessions were also conducted under the supervision of Hesson and the specialist coaching staff.
Shaheen did not participate in physical drills, having just returned from abroad after his Pakistan Super League (PSL) commitments. He arrived in Lahore specifically to hold a one-on-one meeting with Mike Hesson to discuss the team’s future plans.
Following the session, Hesson shared photos from the camp on social media, expressing satisfaction with the ongoing training and describing it as a valuable opportunity for coaches and players to build mutual understanding.
Babar Azam was present on the opening day of the camp, while Mohammad Rizwan is expected to join on the final day.
The three-day camp, which began at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground, features 22 of Pakistan’s top white-ball cricketers. Players were divided into three groups reporting on June 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
The first group, including Babar Azam, Abbas Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Mirza, Shahid Aziz, and Usman Khan, trained on Tuesday under the guidance of the national team management.
Sources indicate that the PCB is using the camp not only to assess fitness and form but also to communicate the team’s strategic direction. Head coach Hesson is also holding individual meetings with key players to discuss their roles and expectations moving forward.
With renewed leadership and a clean sweep over Bangladesh behind them, Pakistan’s white-ball squad is now preparing for the possibility of returning to Dhaka next month for another showdown in the shortest format.
