Pakistan's Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen likely to miss T20Is against BD, WI

ISLAMABAD June 30 (Geo Tv): Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan have remained a highlight and pillar of Pakistan's cricket team in the recent past, however, their continued exclusion from the team as selectors finalise squads for upcoming international assignments has raised questions about the senior players' future roles in the T20 format.

The Pakistan team, as reported by The News, is set to tour Bangladesh and the West Indies in back-to-back T20I series. The official announcement of the squads is expected in the first week of July, ahead of a short but crucial training camp scheduled in Karachi starting July 8. Players selected for the dual tours are to assemble on July 07. Head coach Mike Hesson, currently in New Zealand, is set to return to the country by July 05 to oversee preparations.

Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen, who were rested for the recent home series against Bangladesh, are once again expected to miss out. According to sources close to the selection committee, the think-tank remains unconvinced about including them in the upcoming series.

"Selectors do not appear interested in recalling Babar or Rizwan at this stage, and there are reservations even about Shaheen's involvement in the T20 matches against Bangladesh and West Indies," a well-placed source told the publication.