Pakistan have dropped Babar Azam from their ODI squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.
Pakistan drop Babar Azam from ODI squad for Bangladesh tour
The team's star batter had a difficult time at the T20 World Cup, returning 91 runs in six innings at an average just under 23 and strike rate of 112. He was dropped for their must-win game against Sri Lanka in the Super Eights as well.
Babar was solid enough in his latest ODI series, with scores of 29, 102* and 34 against Sri Lanka at home last November. Prior to that though, he had gone over two years without a century in the format. Apart from a tour of Zimbabwe in 2024, this is the first time Babar will miss an ODI since March 2019.
The squad has a fresh look about it, with six uncapped players selected. One of them is Sahibzada Farhan, who has been revelation for the side in T20 cricket and will now get a chance to represent them in 50-over cricket.
Batters Abdul Samad and Shamyl Hussain, wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori and all-rounders Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood are the other five. Earlier this season, Shamyl hit six fifty-plus scores in a row across the first-class and List A formats. Sadaqat gained prominence last year, where he scored a 30-ball half-century on Pakistan Super League debut, aged 19.
Samad, Sadaqat, Masood and Shamyl were also part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad that was playing against the England Lions in the UAE, before military action in the region led to the cancellation of that tour.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh ODIs
Batters: Abdul Samad, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shamyl Hussain
Wicketkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori
All-rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood
Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr
Pakistan vs Bangladesh ODIs: Full list of fixtures
- 1st ODI: March 11, Shere Bangla Stadium, Mirpur
- 2nd ODI: March 13, Shere Bangla Stadium, Mirpur
- 3rd ODI: March 15, Shere Bangla Stadium, Mirpur
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