New Delhi: Babar Azam has been left out of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh, as the selectors begin reshaping the squad with an eye on the 50-over World Cup next year.
The decision comes in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign in India and Sri Lanka, where they failed to reach the semi-finals.
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Babar endured a poor T20 career, managing just 91 runs. Despite this dip in form, his ODI numbers remain impressive – 6,501 runs and 20 centuries in 140 matches – making his omission a significant call-out. Besides him, opener Saim Ayyub, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and fast bowler Naseem Shah were also left out of the 15-member squad.
In a clear sign of the transformation, Pakistan brought in six players who had never played internationally: Abdul Samad, Moaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Ghazi Ghauri, Saad Masoud, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamil Hussain. The three international matches will be played in Dhaka on March 11, 13 and 15, giving the newcomers a chance to prove themselves on the international stage.Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup.The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the team, as the team enters what looks to be a rebuilding phase.With the upcoming ODI World Cup scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October next year, Pakistan appear to be focusing on updating their squad and testing new combinations in the lead-up to the global event.