PCB Considers Squad Options for Bangladesh T20Is

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is evaluating a group of five players for potential selection in the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh next month. This selection pool includes four seasoned players and one promising newcomer.

Sources indicate that Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, and young fast bowler Ali Raza are all under consideration for the series.

The five T20I matches are scheduled to take place in Pakistan, with games planned for Faisalabad and Lahore.

While the specific dates remain unconfirmed, the Bangladesh team is anticipated to arrive in Pakistan around May 21.

Key Players in Contention

Sahibzada Farhan stands out due to his impressive form in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, where he has consistently scored runs and achieved significant milestones.

Farhan has joined an exclusive group of batsmen by notching four T20 centuries in a single calendar year, matching the accomplishments of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill.

Currently, Farhan leads the global T20 run-scoring charts with 841 runs in 12 matches, boasting an exceptional average of 84.10 and a strike rate of 182.42. His score includes three half-centuries and four centuries, positioning him ahead of Nicholas Pooran of the West Indies, who has 705 runs in 21 matches this year.

Despite his strong domestic performance, the 29-year-old has only featured in nine T20Is for Pakistan, accumulating 86 runs with a strike rate of 95.55. His most recent international appearance was against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2024.

Hussain Talat has also earned consideration for a recall, driven by his influential performances for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 10, where he has tallied 193 runs in six matches.

In his T20I career, the left-handed batsman has played 18 matches for Pakistan, scoring 394 runs with two half-centuries at a strike rate of 118.31. His last appearance dates back to 2021 against South Africa in Lahore.

Faheem Ashraf is being considered following his valuable all-round displays for Quetta Gladiators, where he has recorded 68 runs and secured six wickets during the current PSL season.

Faheem was included in Pakistan’s squad for the ODI series against New Zealand and the Champions Trophy 2025, and his most recent T20I match was against New Zealand in Rawalpindi in 2023.

Hasan Ali, who is currently showcasing top form for Karachi Kings, leads the wicket-taking charts in PSL 10 with 13 wickets in six matches.

He recently surpassed Wahab Riaz to claim the title of the all-time highest wicket-taker in PSL history, with a total of 121 wickets in 88 matches.

In T20Is, Hasan has taken 60 wickets in 51 matches, with his most recent appearance against Ireland in 2024.

Up-and-coming pacer Ali Raza, representing Peshawar Zalmi, has impressed selectors with eight wickets in six matches during PSL 10.