The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to announce the national squad for the Bangladesh T20Is this week, with no significant changes expected, apart from a surprise inclusion.
According to the reports, ace batter Babar Azam and ODI skipper Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who last played for Pakistan during the New Zealand tour, are not under consideration.
However, left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem could be added as a surprise pick for the Bangladesh series. The 25-year-old featured in the five-match away series against the Black Caps.
Despite returning with the figures of 6-2 in two overs, Sufiyan Muqeem was left out of the T20I series against Bangladesh at home.
Pakistan will arrive in Dhaka on 16 July before taking on the Bangladesh cricket team in the first T20I on Sunday, 20 July.
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The second T20I will take place on Tuesday, 22 July, with the third and final match of the series scheduled for Thursday, 24 July.
Notably, all three T20Is will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, with the first ball of each match scheduled to be bowled at 6:00 PM local time.
The two teams recently faced each other in a three-match T20I series at the Gaddafi Stadium, where Pakistan achieved a clean sweep against Bangladesh.
Pakistan won the opening match by 37 runs, thanks to Shadab Khan’s outstanding all-round performance. He scored a rapid 48 runs off 25 balls and took two crucial wickets.
In the second T20I, Sahibzada Farhan and Hasan Nawaz both made significant contributions with quick half-centuries, leading Pakistan to victory.
Meanwhile, the star of the third match was Mohammad Haris, who scored a blazing unbeaten century.
Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I Series ScheduleÂ
20 July – First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)
22 July – Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)
24 July – Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)
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