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Bad news for Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 as PCB reportedly drops them from upcoming T20I series plans.
New Delhi: The T20 World Cup 2026 is near and it is almost certain that a new-look Pakistan cricket team will represent the country in this mega event. Big names like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have led the team in the last few years, but the performances have not lived up to expectations. Due to this, the team had to face criticism at the international level. In such a situation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) now seems serious towards change, especially in the T20 International format.
Out of T20, focus on Tests and ODIs
According to a PTI report, PCB selectors Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, and new head coach Mike Hesson have informed Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen that their services are not required in the T20 format at the moment. They have been dropped from the team for the upcoming two T20 series against West Indies and Bangladesh. All three players have been told to now focus on Test and ODI cricket.
This decision is not surprising, as Babar and Rizwan were earlier left out of the New Zealand tour this year. After that Shaheen Afridi was also dropped in the Bangladesh series.
Preparing for the future with the new team
The Pakistan team will play three T20s and three ODIs on the West Indies tour in the last week of July. After this, the team will play three T20 matches in Bangladesh, but it has also been suggested to extend this series to five matches. If the team performs well in these series, then the chances of Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen returning seem very low, especially when the T20 World Cup is just a few months away.
Mixed reactions of fans and coach’s strategy
Fans are divided in opinion about this decision. Some are considering it a positive step for the future, as the star players were not able to perform according to their reputation in the T20 format. At the same time, some fans believe that by removing all three players together, the team may suffer from lack of experience.
A source close to a national selector said that coach Mike Hesson wants to give young players a chance for a long time so that they can prove themselves. He said, “If the situation worsens, the selectors can include Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen in the team again.” Interestingly, Shaheen has recently led Lahore Qalandars to the PSL title for the third time in five years.
Permission granted to play BBL
Meanwhile, the PCB has also given No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen to play in the Big Bash League (BBL).
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