The Pakistan Cricket Board’s recent ODI squad announcement has raised eyebrows among former Pakistan cricketers, triggering a new controversy.
Former captain Babar Azam has been left out of the 15-member squad for the ODI series in Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh 2026.
Alongside Babar Azam, young opener Saim Ayub has also been excluded from the squad following the returns from white-ball assignments.
Despite Pakistan’s previous ODI series against Sri Lanka last year, he scored 165 runs across three matches and finally registered his long-awaited 20th ODI century.
Babar Azam has accumulated 544 runs in 17 ODIs at an average of 34.00, including one hundred and three half-centuries.
Meanwhile, Saim Ayub has featured in eight ODIs in 2025 and scored 236 runs at an average of 29.50 with two fifties to his name.
The omission has drawn criticism from several former Pakistani cricketers, who have questioned the selectors’ thinking. Former fast bowler Mohammad Amir has questioned decision’s based on form or simply a strategic rest.
“Did you drop Saim and Babar from ODI cricket because of their performances in T20 cricket, or have you rested them from this format?” Amir asked. “That is the first question that needs answering.”
He also raised a concern regarding the pathway back into the team.
“If they have been omitted due to a lack of form, then which ODI cricket will they play to force their way back into the team?” he added.
With the next ICC ODI World Cup scheduled in South Africa next year, Amir has strongly recommended that the selectors must clarify their long-term vision.
“Only eight months remain until the World Cup. Will the same players selected for the Bangladesh series form the core of our squad for that tournament?” he questioned.
On the other hand, Former opener Ahmed Shehzad has also given more weightage on the matter, suggesting that Babar deserved better communication from the board.
“Was Babar consulted before dropping him? If so, tell us the reason,” Shehzad said. “He is still your best batsman in ODI and red-ball cricket. If he has not done anything wrong, then he does not deserve this treatment.”
However, Shaheen Afridi will continue to captain ODIs, while the PCB has retained the broader leadership group ahead of the Bangladesh tour.
The squad itself a significant shift in personnel. A total of six uncapped players have been included in the squad. Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain are in contention.
The tour begins with ODI series to be played on March 11 at Sher-e-Bangla, Dhaka.
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