Pakistan’s star cricketers Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi will not be part of the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled from May 25 to June 3, 2025. According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to rest these key players as part of its strategy to test new talent and experiment with fresh combinations ahead of major events like the T20 Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Babar and Rizwan haven’t featured in any T20 Internationals since December 2024, indicating the management’s shift toward a more attacking and modern T20 approach.
Shaheen, who led the team in a previous series, is also being rested as part of workload management. In their absence, the team will feature several young and emerging players who now have a golden opportunity to prove themselves on the international stage. The decision reflects PCB’s long-term planning to build a strong, flexible T20 squad. Fans can expect a fast-paced and fresh playing style as Pakistan takes on Bangladesh across venues in Faisalabad and Lahore. The Bangladesh team is set to arrive in Pakistan on May 21, with training beginning soon after.
