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Pakistan Drop Babar Azam for Bangladesh ODIs in Major Squad Shake-Up

Pakistan has announced a significantly reshuffled ODI squad for the series against Bangladesh, leaving out former captain Babar Azam. His omission follows criticism after Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup 2026, where he had a below-par campaign. The selectors have also dropped opener Fakhar Zaman and included six uncapped players, signaling a clear transition phase. Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the side, with Mohammad Rizwan returning to the squad.

Key Points: Babar Azam Dropped from Pakistan ODI Squad for Bangladesh Series

  • Babar Azam omitted after 2026 T20 World Cup exit
  • Fakhar Zaman also dropped from squad
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi retained as captain
  • Six uncapped players included for transition
2 min read

Babar Azam dropped as Pakistan announce squad for Bangladesh ODI series

Pakistan cricket drops former captain Babar Azam from the ODI squad against Bangladesh after a poor T20 World Cup. Shaheen Shah Afridi to lead a revamped side.

"The selectors opted to move in a different direction based on his recent form. - PCB Selectors"

Lahore, March 4

Pakistan have left out former captain Babar Azam from the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, beginning March 11, following the team's disappointing campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, where they were out from the Super 8s stage.

Babar featured in 17 ODIs in 2025, scoring 544 runs at a strike rate of 77.16. Although he struck a century in Pakistan's previous ODI series against Sri Lanka, the selectors opted to move in a different direction based on his recent form. His omission comes amid criticism from several former cricketers after Pakistan's early World Cup exit, with some calling for a long-term break from white-ball cricket.

The 31-year-old had a below-par T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, where he managed just 91 runs from four outings with the bat.

The shake-up does not end there. Opener Fakhar Zaman, who registered a half-century in the last ODI and had a steady T20 World Cup campaign, has also been excluded, signalling a transition phase in Pakistan's limited-overs setup.

Young batter Saim Ayub and pacer Naseem Shah are among the other notable absentees. Saim struggled for consistency in recent outings and was dropped during the World Cup, while Naseem also misses out as the selectors reshuffled the squad.

In contrast, Sahibzada Farhan, who enjoyed an impressive T20 World Cup with two centuries and a record-breaking run tally in a single edition, has been rewarded with a call-up.

Despite scrutiny following the World Cup, Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue as captain for the Bangladesh series, with the management backing him to lead the transition. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who was not part of the World Cup squad, also returns.

Pakistan have included six uncapped players in the 15-member squad, indicating a focus on testing bench strength and building depth ahead of future assignments.

Pakistan's Squad for Bangladesh ODI:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Dropping your former captain and best batter sends a very strong message. Pakistan cricket is always so dramatic! 😅 But including 6 new players is exciting. Hope the young guns get a proper chance.
A
Ananya R
As an Indian fan, I have huge respect for Babar Azam's batting. He's a proper technician. But his strike rate in ODIs mentioned here (77.16) is a concern in modern cricket. Maybe the selectors want more intent.
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Vikram M
This feels like a panic reaction after the World Cup. You don't build for the future by abruptly dropping your most experienced player. What message does it send to the dressing room? The management needs a clearer vision.
K
Karthik V
Good to see Sahibzada Farhan getting rewarded for his World Cup performance! That's how it should be - perform and get picked. Also interesting to see Rizwan back. Pakistan's team dynamics are always fascinating to watch from across the border.
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Michael C
Dropping both Babar and Fakhar? That's a massive overhaul. Shaheen has a big job as captain now to lead this new-look side. Bangladesh at home won't be easy, even for a transitioning team.

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