Pakistan Could Rest Multiple Senior Players for Series Against Bangladesh: Report

Following Pakistan’s early exit from the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, a source revealed that the PCB was inclined to rest multiple senior players including the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi for their upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Pakistan failed to make it out of Group A with arch-rivals India and hosts USA sealing the top two spots in the pool to make it to advance in the 20-over extravaganza.

The PCB are leaning towards calling up uncapped or those players who have played just a couple of internationals in an attempt to shake up the side. However, no final decision has been taken on the final squad while PCB remains in touch with Test skipper Shan Masood, who is currently in England representing county side Yorkshire, and red-ball coach Jason Gillespie.

“One of the proposals being considered is giving rest to some senior players namely Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan etc and instead trying out those players who are uncapped or have just played a few internationals for Pakistan,” a source said.

“But, no final decision has been taken because in the end Masood and Gillespie will make the final call on the team selection, as in next few weeks the number of national selectors could also be reduced and the PCB might revert back to the old system of selection process,” the source continued.

The source added that the PCB will look to consult with Gillespie and white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in order to design a workload chart keeping in mind their commitments ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in February next year.

Ahead of the upcoming ICC event, Pakistan will welcome Bangladesh and England for five Tests, before touring Australia for a white-ball series. They are then slated to fly to South Africa.

Pakistan will host South Africa and New Zealand on home soil in January 2025 in an ODI Tri-series before the Champions Trophy.

“The main thing is to finalise a workload system chart for the players with reference to their availability for the Pakistan team and their contracts in franchise-based leagues in this period,” the source continued.

“The next few weeks in Pakistan cricket will be very important and interesting because it appears that the PCB is also waiting for Babar Azam to take a call on captaincy himself before they can discuss the future white-ball captain,” the source concluded.

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