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Babar, Rizwan and Afridi's T20 career over? Star players not in Pakistan selectors' plans for future assignments
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi, the biggest stars among the current generation of Pakistani cricketers, have been told by the selectors and head coach Mike Hesson that their services will not be required for upcoming assignments against West Indies and Bangladesh. read more
The trio of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan had played a key role in Pakistan's historic victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup and their runner-up finish in the same tournament, a year later in Australia. Reuters
Former captains Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi had played a key role in helping Pakistan pull off a historic victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, and reach the final of the same tournament a year later in Australia. The trio's days in Twenty20 Internationals, however, might be over already with Pakistan selectors reportedly not considering them for upcoming assignments against West Indies and Bangladesh, which will be played in July-August and whose squads are expected to be announced next week.
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The selectors – Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq – and head coach Mike Hesson have already conveyed to Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen that they are not required for the upcoming T20 series and should focus more on the ICC World Test Championship and ODIs.
Pakistan is due to tour the West Indies in the last week of July to play three T20 internationals and three ODIs. Pakistan, after playing in the Caribbean, fly to Bangladesh for a three match T20 series but suggestions have been made to convert into a five match series in August.
Pakistan is also due to host Afghanistan for a T20 series in late August, all in preparation for the Asia Cup in September (not confirmed as yet) and early next year's ICC World T20 Cup.
Selectors can always fall back on trio if things go south, claims source
A source close to a national selector said that the panel and Hesson wanted to give a proper run to the new young players in the T20 squad in the series ahead.
'The idea is that if things go south then the selectors can always go back to Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen.'
Ironically, Shaheen has now led the Lahore Qalandars franchise to its third Pakistan Super League title in five years.
Babar on the other hand is set to announce a first time appearance in the Big Bash for Sydney Sixers later this week after the board gave him and some other players NOCs to play in the event between December 28 and late January.
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The three seniors have not been picked in the national T20 squad for Pakistan's last two series against New Zealand and Bangladesh and even before that Babar was overlooked for T20 series in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
With PTI inputs
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