Pakistan National Cricket Team: Current Series, Squad News and Future Tours
The Pakistan National Cricket Team is currently navigating a busy international calendar, with the senior men’s side engaged in a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Following a disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which they co-hosted with Sri Lanka earlier this year, the team is undergoing a transition phase as they build toward the 50-over World Cup in 2027 .
Pakistan National Cricket : Ongoing ODI Series in Bangladesh
The Pakistan National Cricket Team is currently locked in a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, with matches being played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka . The series is being broadcast live on PTV Sports and streamed on platforms like Tapmad, Myco, and Tamasha in Pakistan .
Read Also Here: Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2nd ODI Preview and Match Details
Series Schedule :
First ODI: March 11 – Bangladesh won by 8 wickets
Second ODI: March 13 – Live now
Third ODI: March 15 – Upcoming
First ODI Recap: A Disappointing Start
The series opener on March 11 proved to be a nightmare for Pakistan. Batting first, the visitors were bowled out for just 114 runs in 30.4 overs—their lowest total batting first against Bangladesh in ODI history . Young Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana was the destroyer-in-chief, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul with sensational figures of 5 for 24 .
Pakistan had fielded four debutant batters in the first ODI—Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, and Abdul Samad—as part of their rebuilding process for the 2027 World Cup . Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi had confirmed before the match that Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat would open the batting, with Shamyl Hussain at number three .
The performance drew sharp criticism from former Pakistan cricketers. Basit Ali questioned the team management’s gameplan, while Kamran Akmal described the batting as worse than club cricket, stating, “I swear to God, batting like this doesn’t even happen in club cricket. Club cricketers don’t play this badly” .
Bangladesh chased down the target in just 15.1 overs, winning by eight wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the series .
Second ODI: Live Update
The second ODI is being played on Friday, March 13, at the same venue. Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and elected to bowl first . As of the latest update, Pakistan are 45 for 0 after 5.2 overs .
Pakistan’s Playing XI for 2nd ODI :
Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf
Bangladesh’s Playing XI for 2nd ODI :
Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana
Full Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh ODIs :
Player Role
- Shaheen Shah Afridi Captain
- Abdul Samad Batter
- Abrar Ahmed Spinner
- Faheem Ashraf All-rounder
- Faisal Akram Spinner
- Haris Rauf Fast Bowler
- Hussain Talat All-rounder
- Maaz Sadaqat Batter
- Mohammad Rizwan Wicketkeeper
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr Fast Bowler
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori Wicketkeeper
- Saad Masood Batter
- Sahibzada Farhan Batter
- Salman Ali Agha All-rounder
- Shamyl Hussain Batter
Head-to-Head Record
Pakistan and Bangladesh have played a total of 39 ODIs against each other. Pakistan has won 34 of those encounters, while one game ended as a no-result . Despite this dominant historical record, Bangladesh’s comprehensive victory in the first ODI demonstrates the competitive nature of the current series.
T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign
Earlier this year, the Pakistan National Cricket Team participated in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka . The squad, announced in January 2026, featured several notable selections and omissions.
T20 World Cup Squad :
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Key Selection Points:
Babar Azam Returns: The batting icon, who is the all-time leading run-scorer in men’s T20Is, was included in the squad after missing earlier series due to BBL commitments . His return added significant firepower to the batting lineup .
Haris Rauf Omitted: Speedster Haris Rauf was a conspicuous absence from the squad, with Pakistan relying on Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah to spearhead the pace attack .
Mohammad Rizwan Misses Out: Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was another high-profile name omitted from the T20 squad .
All-rounder Depth: The squad featured strong all-round options including Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz, providing multiple combinations with both bat and ball .
Pakistan was placed in Group A alongside defending champions India, Netherlands, USA, and Namibia. Their campaign began on February 7 against the Netherlands in Colombo . The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match took place on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo .
Domestic Cricket: Usama Mir’s Record Performance
In domestic cricket, leg-spinner Usama Mir has been making headlines with a phenomenal performance in the National T20 Cup. Representing Sialkot against Lahore Blues on March 12, Mir took an incredible 6 wickets for just 8 runs .
His figures of 6-8 represent the best bowling figures by any bowler on Pakistani soil in T20 cricket, eclipsing Mohammad Imran’s 6-16 from 2023 . Mir, who has played 17 international games for Pakistan between 2023 and 2024, has since been sidelined in the national setup by Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq . This performance serves as a strong reminder of his capabilities.
Notably, Mir is just the fourth bowler in T20 cricket history to take two six-wicket hauls, joining an exclusive club that includes Ajantha Mendis, Shakib Al Hasan, and Gujarat’s Arzan Nagwaswalla .
Upcoming Tours and Future Series
Looking ahead, the Pakistan National Cricket Team has a packed international schedule. The team is set to travel to New Zealand for a white-ball series, with the T20I series opener scheduled for March 16 in Christchurch .
New Zealand Tour Details :
T20I Series: Five matches, starting March 16
ODI Series: Three matches, from March 29 to April 5
This will be Pakistan’s first white-ball series after their disappointing performance in the home ICC Champions Trophy, where they failed to win a match and faced an early exit .
Squad for New Zealand Tour :
Format Captain Key Players
T20Is Salman Agha Shadab Khan (vc), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
ODIs Mohammad Rizwan Salman Agha (vc), Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Abdullah Shafique
Three uncapped players—Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali—have been added to the T20I squad in the absence of senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20 format . The PCB has stated that the decision to appoint Salman and Shadab as T20I captain and vice-captain was made with an eye on the T20 World Cup 2026 and the Asia Cup 2025 .
For the ODI format, Rizwan will continue leading the side as Pakistan builds towards the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be held in Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in October/November 2027 .
Abrar Ahmed’s Hundred Signing
In off-field news, Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has made headlines by becoming the first Pakistan player to be signed by an Indian-owned team in The Hundred. Sunrisers Leeds bought him for £190,000 during the inaugural men’s Hundred auction in London .
The signing sparked backlash on social media against Sunrisers Leeds co-owner Kavya Maran, with critics pointing to alleged remarks by the 27-year-old spinner in the past . However, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla clarified that the board cannot intervene as the signing relates to a foreign league, stating, “It is not in our domain (IPL), they have done it for some foreign league. They will have to take a call; we cannot do anything” .
Another Pakistan player, Usman Tariq, was also picked up in the auction by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 .
Analysis by Best Pak Mag:
The Pakistan National Cricket Team finds itself at a critical juncture. The decision to field four debutant batters in the first ODI against Bangladesh signals a clear commitment to building toward the 2027 World Cup, but the 114 all-out performance exposed the risks of such an approach. The harsh criticism from former players like Kamran Akmal, who compared the batting unfavorably to club cricket, reflects the high expectations that accompany the Pakistan shirt. Meanwhile, the leadership structure is evolving with Salman Agha leading the T20 side and Rizwan captaining in ODIs, while Shaheen Afridi leads in Bangladesh. The upcoming New Zealand tour will provide another opportunity to test this new-look squad. The domestic form of players like Usama Mir, with his record-breaking 6-8 in the National T20 Cup, reminds selectors that proven performers are waiting in the wings. As Pakistan navigates this transition period, the balance between youth development and competitive performance will be crucial. The next 18 months, leading to the 2027 World Cup, will define the legacy of this generation.
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