Pak to tour WI for ODIs, T20s in July
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has completed internal discussions regarding the white-ball squads for upcoming international assignments, sources confirmed on Thursday.
According to insiders, the PCB is waiting for a response from the West Indies Cricket Board (CWI) on a proposal to convert the three-match ODI series into T20 Internationals (T20Is). If approved, the board is expected to announce a joint T20 squad for both the Bangladesh and West Indies series.
Sources said that the PCB is hopeful the CWI will agree to the proposed change, as the switch would align better with preparations for the T20-format ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
The squad announcement is expected soon after a formal response is received from the West Indies board.
While no major changes are anticipated in the T20 squad, sources indicate that left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem is likely to be included.
However, the return of senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi remains uncertain for the upcoming matches. The PCB's selection committee is hopeful that these senior players will bounce back, taking inspiration from other top players who made successful comebacks in the past.
Players have been told that the door for selection remains open, and strong performances in domestic and league cricket will improve their chances of a recall. The selection committee is also focusing on identifying and preparing young talent to meet the demands of modern cricket.
Pakistan is currently scheduled to tour the USA and West Indies in July and August for a white-ball series, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs.
The T20Is are set to take place on July 31, August 2, and August 3, while the ODIs are planned for August 8, 10, and 12 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
However, the schedule may be revised if the ODI matches are officially converted to T20Is following further discussions between the PCB and CWI.
Change in selection committee
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday confirmed that only one change has been made to the national men's selection committee, which otherwise remains 'intact'.
In an official statement, the board clarified that data analyst Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi, who will assist the selection committee but will not have any voting rights during team selection.
"The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the national selection committee remains intact," the statement read.
A PCB spokesperson added, "The Board has only replaced the data analyst, who will have no voting right during team selection. Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi as the data analyst to assist the selection committee."
The rest of the selection panel remains unchanged, including former interim head coach Aaqib Javed, umpire Aleem Dar, and former cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq - all of whom hold voting rights.
Members of the national selection committee: Aaqib Javed (Member), Aleem Dar (Member), Asad Shafiq (Member), Azhar Ali (Member).
The PCB also stated that the committee will remain bound to consult with the head coach and captain of the respective teams before finalizing any squad.
This statement came in response to recent media reports claiming a major reshuffle in the committee was expected, which included the possible removal of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.
Reports had suggested that former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and cricket analyst Sikandar Bakht - known for frequently criticizing PCB policies - were being considered as replacements.
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