KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has voiced strong criticism over Babar Azam’s exclusion from the national squad for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a 15-member squad for the three-match series, which will take place from March 11 to 15 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
The squad announcement saw six players dropped, including former skipper Babar Azam. In their place, the selectors introduced six uncapped players — Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.
The decision to leave out several senior players comes shortly after Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The team failed to reach the semi-finals after falling short of the required 65-run victory margin against Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match on February 28.
Difficult tournament
Although Babar endured a difficult tournament, scoring 91 runs in six innings at an average of 22.75, his recent performances in the ODI format had been encouraging.
In Pakistan’s last ODI assignment — a home series against Sri Lanka — the right-handed batter scored 165 runs in three matches, including his 20th ODI century that ended a long wait for a hundred in the format.
Reacting to his omission, Yousuf — who represented Pakistan in 90 Tests, 288 ODIs and three T20 Internationals — questioned the logic behind the decision and suggested Babar’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad had been more surprising.
“[Babar Azam’s] inclusion in the [T20 World Cup] was surprising, but his exclusion now, if it’s not simply a case of being rested is mind-boggling. Who is making these senseless decisions,” Yousuf wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
#BabarAzam’s inclusion in the #T20WorldCup was surprising, but his exclusion now, if it’s not simply a case of being rested is mind boggling. Who is making these senseless decisions.
— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) March 4, 2026
Pakistan’s 15-Member ODI Squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain.
