Pakistan cricket is buzzing with controversy after selectors dropped Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman for the ODI series against Bangladesh. Announced from New Delhi, the squad reflects fallout from the T20 World Cup 2026, where Babar’s bat fell silent with only 91 runs in four outings. Critics, including former players, had called for his break from white-ball cricket, even as his 2025 ODI stats shone bright: 544 runs at 77.16 strike rate, capped by a ton versus Sri Lanka.
The overhaul extends to benching Saim Ayub and Naseem Shah, injecting six uncapped rookies into the 15-man lineup. It’s a clear pivot toward future-proofing the limited-overs team. Shaheen Afridi leads as captain, his World Cup form forgiven in a show of faith.
Returning hero Mohammad Rizwan bolsters the middle order, joined by T20 World Cup sensation Sahibzada Farhan. Full squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Muhammad Ghazi Gory (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shamil Hussain.
All eyes turn to Dhaka for the series opener on March 11, with subsequent matches on March 13 and 15. This radical selection could redefine Pakistan’s ODI fortunes—or expose vulnerabilities against a confident Bangladesh.