Babar and Rizwan Unlikely to Return for T20 Series Against Bangladesh

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to recall Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for the upcoming T20 series against Bangladesh, continuing their absence from the shortest format since December 13, 2024. The duo, once considered the backbone of Pakistan's white-ball batting, were earlier dropped from the T20 squad during the New Zealand tour at the start of the year — a series Pakistan lost 4-1.

Despite their stature — with Babar being Pakistan’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20 internationals — the PCB seems focused on building a younger, more aggressive T20 unit ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. This approach, however, has yet to yield significant results.

Sources suggest that Babar and Rizwan are not being considered for selection in the five-match T20I home series against Bangladesh. The selectors appear committed to testing new talents and reshaping the team’s identity with a long-term vision.

The likely squad for the Bangladesh series includes emerging and fringe players such as Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, and Ali Raza.

While Babar and Rizwan’s omission has sparked debate among fans and pundits, PCB's current strategy seems firmly aligned with long-term development rather than short-term gains.