Sahibzada Farhan’s impressive form in the PSL 2025 has secured him a return to the Pakistan T20I squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh. With this recall, Farhan is one of nine changes from the squad that visited New Zealand in March.
Also making their comebacks are Hasan Ali and Saim Ayub. Ayub, sidelined since his injury during the Test series in South Africa in January, has managed a return to the national fold. Despite average performances in the PSL for Peshawar Zalmi—scoring 174 runs with an average of 17.40 and a strike rate of 125.17—Ayub’s potential and past performances seem to have weighed in his favour.
Hasan Ali last played for Pakistan in May 2024 and has fought his way back into the squad. His 15 wickets in the PSL for Karachi Kings have seen him tie for second place on the wickets tally, just behind Abbas Afridi’s 17. It’s worth noting that Abbas, despite his current form, is one of the players excluded this time.
The list of inclusions in the squad is significant: Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, with Farhan and Ayub, completing the line-up. Meanwhile, some notable names, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, do not feature in this selection. Babar and Rizwan were not part of the New Zealand T20I series earlier this year, when Salman Agha was introduced as the new T20I captain. Although Afridi participated in those matches, he has now been omitted.
Farhan, who last represented Pakistan in T20Is in December last year, effectively pushed the selectors’ hands with his PSL record this season. Playing for Islamabad United, he is the tournament’s leading scorer with 394 runs, including a century and two half-centuries, achieved at a strike rate of 154.50.
The squad also welcomes back Fakhar Zaman, Hussain Talat, and Faheem Ashraf, in addition to Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, and Naseem Shah, offering a blend of experience and stability to the team.
Significantly, this three-match series against Bangladesh marks the debut assignment for Mike Hesson as the newly appointed Pakistan white-ball head coach. While the exact dates for the tour remain unconfirmed, it is anticipated to take place on May 28, 30, and 31.
Here is the Pakistan squad for the T20I series against Bangladesh: Salman Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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