Pakistan’s cricket team faces a bold overhaul as the national selection committee excludes star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi from the T20I squads for the upcoming tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies in July 2025.
According to PCB sources, the decision was made in consultation with white-ball coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Agha and reflects a shift toward youth and form-based selections.
Geo Super reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) cited recent performances as the primary reason for omitting Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi. Rizwan, who captained Pakistan to a 2-0 T20I series loss in South Africa in 2024, and Babar, a key batter in that series, faced criticism for their strike rates and inability to turn matches. Both were dropped for the New Zealand tour and the Bangladesh home series earlier in 2025
Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan in the Big Bash League for the first time together. Are you excited? 🇵🇰🔥 pic.twitter.com/8NHTO52WOo
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) June 10, 2025Shaheen Afridi struggled in New Zealand, taking only two wickets in four matches at an economy rate of 10.23. Reports of his uncooperative attitude toward team management further impacted his selection.
A PCB official stated, “The management wants to move on from Babar and Rizwan, focusing on youngsters to address Pakistan’s recent T20I struggles.”
Selection Committee’s Strategy
The selection committee, now including former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and ex-pacer Sikander Bakht, prioritised Pakistan Super League (PSL) performances over reputation. Coach Mike Hesson reportedly favoured including Babar and Rizwan for the Bangladesh series. Still, selector Aaqib Javed pushed for younger players in the home series against Bangladesh, scheduled for July 20, 22, and 24, 2025. The West Indies tour, featuring five T20Is in Florida, follows immediately.
Captain Salman Agha supported the youth-focused approach, aiming to build a robust backup squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Babar Azam’s modest PSL 10 performance (288 runs in 10 matches) and Rizwan’s 367 runs fell short of expectations despite an unbeaten 105. Shaheen’s 11 wickets in PSL 10 were deemed insufficient for his stature. The trio’s exclusion sparked debate, with some fans on X calling it “harsh” and alleging favouritism, while others supported the merit-based approach.
Hesson met with Babar, Rizwan, and Afridi in Lahore to discuss their exclusion and outline plans, emphasising that the door remains open for a potential return.
Pakistan’s upcoming T20I schedule includes a series against Afghanistan, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia, which is aimed at preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The new-look squad, led by Salman Agha, features emerging talents like Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Mohammad Haris, who impressed in PSL 10.
The PCB’s focus on domestic form and young players signals a long-term strategy to rebuild Pakistan’s T20I competitiveness after recent disappointments, including an early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan’s decision to exclude Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi from the T20I squads for the Bangladesh and West Indies tours, announced on June 10, 2025, marks a pivotal shift in team strategy.
