Babar, Syed Omitted, PCB Selectors Under Fire

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. However, the announcement has immediately sparked debate and criticism within the country’s cricketing circles, particularly regarding the omission of former captain Babar Azam and young opener Syed Ayyub. Several former Pakistani cricketers have questioned the selectors’ decision.

Former left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir raised concerns about the selectors’ choices, asking, “Did you exclude Syed and Babar from the ODI squad based on their T20 performance, or were they dropped from this format altogether? That’s the first question that needs an answer. If they were omitted due to form, which ODIs will they play to make a comeback? That’s my second question.”

Another former opener, Ahmed Shehzad, expressed surprise at Babar’s exclusion from the Bangladesh series squad. According to him, “Was Babar consulted before being left out? If so, the reason should have been communicated. If he has harmed Pakistan cricket in any way, that should be made clear. But if not, treating him like this was inappropriate.”

Former batsman Mohammad Yousuf echoed similar sentiments. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote, “Including Babar Azam in the T20 World Cup squad was already surprising. Now he has been omitted. If this is not just a matter of rest, the decision is truly shocking. Who is making these arbitrary choices?”

Meanwhile, some uncertainty surrounds Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh. According to the schedule, the three-match ODI series is set to be held at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on March 11, 13, and 15, with the Pakistan team expected to arrive on March 8.

Pakistani media have reported concerns about the tour due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. It is understood that the team will proceed with the tour as long as there are no security risks.

The series is also important for Bangladesh. To secure direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Bangladesh must be among the top eight in the ODI rankings by March 31 next year. As hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify automatically.

Currently, Pakistan sits fourth in the ODI rankings with 104 rating points, while Bangladesh is tenth with 76 points. Therefore, this series against Pakistan is crucial for Bangladesh to improve its ranking.