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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shortlisted five players for the upcoming home T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin next month.
According to the reports, the players under consideration are Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Ali, Ali Raza, Hussain Talat, and Faheem Ashraf.
Sahibzada Farhan is in red-hot form in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, amassing 236 runs in five matches, including one century. He is also the leading run-scorer in T20 cricket this year, accumulating 841 runs in 12 matches at a staggering average of 84.10.
The right-hander has achieved the feat of becoming the first Pakistani player to score four T20 centuries in a single calendar year, a feat previously achieved only by Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill.
Sahibzada has represented Pakistan in 9 T20Is, scoring 86 runs at a strike rate of 95.55. The 29-year-old’s last international appearance came against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2024.
Hasan Ali, the leading wicket-taker of PSL 10, is also under consideration for the national squad, following his impressive performances in the ongoing tournament.
The right-arm pacer is currently leading the bowling charts with 13 wickets in six matches. Hasan Ali last played for Pakistan in a T20I in 2024 against Ireland.
Peshawar Zalmi’s all-rounder Hussain Talat is also in line for a comeback into the national team after his impressive performance with the bat in PSL 10. The left-handed batter had notable outings, scoring 193 runs in six matches. Hussain Talat last represented Pakistan in 2021, against South Africa.
Following his solid performances with bat and ball, Quetta Gladiators all-rounder Faheem Ashraf is being considered for selection. He has scored 68 runs and taken six wickets in the ongoing PSL season.
Peshawar Zalmi’s emerging pacer, Ali Raza, has attracted attention with his impressive bowling, claiming eight wickets in six matches during the PSL 10. The 17-year-old fast bowler has not yet made his debut, having previously played for Pakistan Under-19 in the 2024 World Cup.
For the unversed, Bangladesh will now play a five-match T20I series against Pakistan. Initially, Bangladesh was scheduled to tour Pakistan for three one-day internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in May, according to the Future Tour Programme (FTP).
Both cricket boards decided to replace the 50-over series with T20 internationals due to the Asia Cup in September 2025 and the T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka in February next year.
