Sahibzada Farhan In, Babar Azam Out? Pakistan's Likely Squad For Bangladesh ODI Series

Pakistan's probable squad for Bangladesh tour [Source: AFP]

Pakistan needed to beat Sri Lanka by a huge margin to qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals, and while the team did manage to defeat the Lankan Lions, the margin was only 5 runs, as the Salman Agha-led side crashed out in the Super 8. The last time Pakistan reached an ICC event semis was in 2022, and since then, the team has suffered heartbreaks.

Now, with their World Cup campaign over, the Men in Green will shift their focus towards the upcoming Bangladesh ODI series, starting on March 11. The team is yet to be announced by the PCB, but here is the probable squad that could travel to face the Tigers in the three-match ODI series.

Pakistan probable squad for Bangladesh ODI series

Openers and Top order batter: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam.

Pakistan last played an ODI series against Sri Lanka, and their top three batters were Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, and Babar Azam. The trio performed well against the Lankan Lions and will likely retain their place for the Bangladesh series. Even though Babar failed to deliver the goods in the T20 World Cup, the team might still give him a chance, considering his decent ODI numbers.

Babar even scored a century, and is likely to play at 3, with Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman opening the batting for the Pakistan team. The star of the T20 World Cup, Sahibzada Farhan should also get a place in the team.

Sahibzada Farhan in List-A cricket)

In 72 List-A games, Sahibzada Farhan has scored 2926 runs, with a healthy average 41.80. He was in red-hot form in the T20 World Cup, and should be rewarded with a place in the ODI squad.

Middle-order and all-rounders: Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Hussain Talat, Salman Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz

Mohammad Rizwan will be the first-choice keeper in the Bangladesh ODI series, and most likely, Usman Khan will be his backup. Rizwan, who has been sidelined from the T20Is, and has been Pakistan’s backbone in the ODI format.

T20I skipper, Salman Agha is another player who has been a disappointment in the shortest format, but alongside Rizwan, he has been a solid player for the Men in Green in the ODIs.

Also Read: Pakistan Players Who Have Played Their Last T20 World Cup In 2026 Ft. Babar Azam

The all-rounders in the team include Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf, as one player offers quality spin-bowling, and the other is a reliable medium-pacer, to go with his explosive batting.

Hussain Talat has been in and out of the team, but he was present in Pakistan’s last ODI series against Sri Lanka, and expect him to be included in the team.

Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

Shaheen Afridi is the newly appointed ODI captain, and the left-arm seamer will have the responsibility to lead the pace attack against Bangladesh. Alongside him, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf will be the other pacers in the squad. Rauf has been out of the T20I squad, but he was Pakistan’s best bowler against Sri Lanka in their last ODI tour.

Abrar Ahmed will be the leader of the spin-attack, and he will get ample support from Usman Tariq, the new mystery spinner. Tariq was the trump card for Men in Green in the T20 World Cup, and the selectors should fast-track the bowler in the ODI setup as well.

The Bangladesh conditions will favour the spinners, and in all likelihood, Pakistan should unleash Abrar and Tariq together.

Pakistan's probable ODI squad for Bangladesh series

Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Hussain Talat, Salman Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi(c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

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