Pakistan near finalising squad for coming tours

LAHORE: As the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) nears toward finalising its squad for the upcoming white-ball tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies, several big names are set to miss out.

According to sources, a preliminary 25-player squad has been drawn up following consultations between the selection committee and head coach Mike Hesson and notably excludes Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Babar has reportedly already been informed of his omission, while Rizwan and Shaheen’s T20I futures remain uncertain. The final squad announcement hinges on ongoing talks with Cricket West Indies (CWI) regarding a proposal to replace the three-match ODI series with T20Is, aligning with preparations for the Asia Cup 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026. Should the shift be approved, a joint T20I squad for both tours will be unveiled.

Sources add that players have been assured that future selection remains performance-based, and comebacks for experienced figures like Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen are very much possible, depending on form in domestic and franchise leagues.