Babar, Rizwan face axe from T20s
Shaheen, Babar, and Rizwan – all once key members of the national team – are now being consistently overlooked, raising questions about the future of their international careers.
Shaheen, 25, has seemingly fallen out of favor with selectors. After being left out of the home series against Bangladesh, he's now also been excluded from the return tour. Sources claim that selector Aaqib Javed cited Shaheen's underwhelming performance in New Zealand, saying he needs to correct his flaws.
Ironically, Shaheen led Lahore Qalandars to a HBL Pakistan Super League title and was the tournament's top wicket-taker with 19 scalps. Aaqib had previously worked with him as part of the same franchise, though their relationship is now said to be strained.
While vacationing in England with his family, Shaheen was called back by selectors, but was then left out of the squad without any prior notice. He reportedly found out through social media.
Some media reports had suggested disciplinary issues as the reason for his omission, but a top PCB official refuted these claims, reiterating that the decision was based purely on cricketing grounds, and that the board had not issued any directive against his selection. "If there were disciplinary issues, he wouldn't have been invited to the training camp either," the official added.
Regarding Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, sources reveal that there is currently no plan to include them in the T20 squad. Coach Mike Hesson has already advised both players that they must adapt their playing approach in the shorter format and show some intent if they hope to make a comeback.
Shaheen, Shadab Khan, and Salman Ali Agha are reportedly part of Mike Hesson's "core team", but will be rested periodically as part of a rotation policy. Shaheen might still be in contention for the upcoming West Indies tour, while Babar and Rizwan may be considered for the ODI squad.
It's worth noting that Shadab is currently sidelined due to surgery, and the PCB is still in discussions to convert all three ODIs against the West Indies into T20 matches. If that happens, Babar and Rizwan's return could be delayed even further.
Recently, in a media briefing, Coach Hesson said that Shaheen needs to improve his performance. He also dismissed rumors suggesting he had asked Babar Azam to take on wicketkeeping duties to re-enter the team. According to sources, these rumors were likely spread by "social media warriors" trying to drum up public support for the sidelined players.
Pakistan Shaheens squad named for Eng tour
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced an 18-member squad for the Pakistan Shaheens' upcoming multi-format tour of England, scheduled to begin later this month. The tour will run from July 17 to August 6.
Left-handed batter Saud Shakeel has been named captain and will lead a team that includes three other Test players: fast bowler Musa Khan, left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, and off-spinner Sajid Khan.
The squad also features 14 emerging players, 11 of whom are under the age of 25. Among them are the top scorers from the most recent Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - Azan Awais and Maaz Sadaqat - along with Ali Zaryab, Haider Ali, Mohammad Suleman, Omair Bin Yousuf, and Shamyl Hussain, who strengthen the batting lineup.
Rohail Nazir will serve as the wicketkeeper for the tour. The pace attack includes Mushtaq Ahmed, Shahid Aziz, and Ubaid Shah, while the spin department will be led by Sajid Khan, with support from Faisal Akram, Mehran Mumtaz, and Mubasir Khan.
The team will assemble for a training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi before flying out to England on July 16. The final schedule and venues for the matches will be shared by the PCB in due course.
Pakistan Shaheens squad:
Saud Shakeel (captain), Ali Zaryab, Azan Awais, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Suleman, Mubasir Khan, Musa Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Omair Bin Yousuf, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Shahid Aziz, Shamyl Hussain, Ubaid Shah.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan includes Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan in 25-player pool for T20 World Cup
Pakistan's T20I captain Salman Ali Agha on Monday revealed that the team management has finalised a 25-player pool with the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in mind, focusing on building bench strength and long-term team stability. Speaking to media ahead of the team's departure for Bangladesh, Agha emphasised that Pakistan is strategically preparing a versatile group of players who can step up at any time. 'We want to have players ready who can replace anyone when needed. That's how we are working on our bench strength,' he said. He confirmed that the team management will continue rotating and testing these 25 players in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. 'The plan is to see only these 25 players in action until the World Cup,' Agha noted. Babar Azam, Shaheen back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour Addressing the inclusion of senior players, the captain reaffirmed that Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan are all part of the World Cup pool. 'Shaheen's performance speaks for itself, he remains a crucial asset for Pakistan,' he added. Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam Responding to a question about Mohammad Nawaz's surprise inclusion, Agha said the all-rounder was drafted in to replace the injured Shadab Khan. 'We were looking for someone with a similar profile to Shadab. Nawaz fits that role,' he explained, adding that performance fluctuates, but a player's potential must always be considered. The skipper further stated that a preparatory camp was held in Karachi keeping in mind the conditions of upcoming series. 'We trained here because of the favorable spin conditions, which resemble what we expect in the coming matches,' he said. Looking ahead, Agha said he's not concerned about the captaincy in future series. 'My focus is always on the current assignment. I want to extract the best performance from my players,' he said. Commenting on the challenge ahead, Agha warned that Bangladesh could be a formidable opponent in home conditions. 'They've beaten strong sides at home, we'll need to be at our best,' he said. Agha concluded by emphasizing the need for consistency in leadership and cricketing systems. 'One or two months are not enough to build results. I'm ready to do whatever it takes for Pakistan cricket to reach its potential,' he said.
Business Recorder
21 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Goethe-Institut, MatrixFit host ‘StrongHer' symposium
KARACHI: The Goethe-Institut Pakistan, in collaboration with MatrixFit Pakistan hosted 'StrongHer' — an 'active symposium' celebrating women's strength, wellbeing, and community — at a local hotel here. The event drew together a diverse crowd of working professionals, students, parents, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes for an experience that was as energising as it was inspiring. The event comprised of three keynote addresses, a panel discussion, and concluded with a community workout session. The evening opened with keynote addresses from three remarkable women. Christina Hering, a two-time Olympian and 15-time German champion, urged the majority-female audience to 'dream big, and work hard'. She reflected on discipline, performance, and identity in elite sport. Yasmin Hyder, CEO of New World Concepts and pioneer in women's entrepreneurship, spoke about inclusive leadership and her 'journey from sports to the boardroom'. Mintra Tilly, Director of Sport at HYROX – described as the 'World Series of Fitness Racing' – pointed out that respect is not given but negotiated, in the fitness world which is often a male dominated space. 'Sport allows women to reclaim autonomy over their bodies,' she added. The panel which delved into the complex relationships women sometimes have with strength, health and self-worth was moderated by Sarah Munir, CEO, journalist, and entrepreneur. The conversation explored healing, body image, community-care, and competence through mental and physical resilience. Panellists included pioneering Pakistani mountaineer Samina Baig, trauma-informed life coach Saman Ghani Khan, human resources and mentoring export Beenish Kajani, wellness expert and yoga instructor Amafah Mubashir, and visionary leader from the Pakistani fashion industry Parishae Adnan. The event closed with an invigorating community workout session, reinforcing StrongHer's core message: that strength is not just physical, but also emotional, social, and collective. Upto fifty participants from amongst the speakers and guests assembled into teams of four, taking laps around the hall, followed by performing exercises in a circuit format with the non-participating audience heartily cheering them on. Participants left feeling recharged and connected a reminder that empowerment begins in the body but resonates far beyond it. Also in attendance were Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, Director of Goeth-Institute Pakistan, Andreas Schiekofer, Bilal Tariq, founder of MatrixFit Pakistan and the first Pakistani man to have competed in the international CrossFit Games. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Haris Rauf likely to be fit for WI tour
Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf will undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after suffering a hamstring injury during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 while representing the San Francisco Unicorns. According to reports, Rauf is expected to begin his rehab in the coming week. He was not included in Pakistan's squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on July 20 in Dhaka. The rehabilitation process is expected to take approximately 10 to 12 days. If the right-arm pacer regains full fitness in time, he will be considered for selection for Pakistan's white-ball tour of the West Indies, scheduled for next month. Rauf has been a standout performer in MLC 2025, currently ranking as the second-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 9.08. On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad for the T20I series against Bangladesh. All-rounder Agha Salman will continue to captain the side, while vice-captain Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf were both ruled out due to injuries. Shadab recently underwent successful shoulder surgery in the UK. The procedure was performed on his right shoulder, which had been bothering him for some time. Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has opened ticket sales for the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan. The T20I series will begin on July 31 at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, with the remaining two matches scheduled for August 2 and 3. This will be followed by a three-match ODI series in Trinidad, with matches scheduled for August 8, 10, and 12. The PCB had earlier proposed converting the ODI series into T20Is to provide more preparation for Pakistan in the shortest format ahead of the 2025 ACC Men's Asia Cup and the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, both of which will be played in the T20 format. However, despite ongoing discussions, CWI is reportedly inclined to stick with the originally agreed tour itinerary. While no official response has been issued yet, sources suggest the West Indies board is firm on retaining the current schedule, which includes both the T20I and ODI series. Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20I series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim. Earlier, Pakistan's T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, recently opened up in a candid interview with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), offering insights into his teammates' personalities and his own unique talents. Since taking on the T20I captaincy earlier this year, Agha has proven to be not only a leader on the field but also someone with a sense of humour off it. When asked to imagine his teammates in film roles, Agha had plenty of playful ideas. He placed Pakistan's top batter, Babar Azam, in the lead as the hero, while fast bowler Haris Rauf, with his fiery on-field persona, would fit the role of a villain. Agha also gave pacer Hasan Ali the title of the team's comedian and suggested Abdullah Shafique would be best suited for the role of a love-struck character. As for Fakhar Zaman, Agha cheekily cast him as a singer and said he would cast Zaman in a 'musical' role. Agha didn't stop there; he reflected on his own life choices, joking that if he weren't a cricketer, he would have likely been a businessman. He also revealed that, given a magical ability, he would erase social media platforms.
