PCB adds Babar, Rizwan and Afridi to white-ball camp ahead of Bangladesh series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its squad for the upcoming T20 International (T20I) series against Bangladesh, which is scheduled to begin on July 20 in Dhaka.

In a significant development, the board has also included prominent players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the white-ball training camp set to be held in Karachi today, despite initially being excluded from the camp. 

The decision to bring back these key figures into the national setup comes after widespread criticism on social media.

Fans and cricket analysts alike expressed strong disappointment over the absence of some of Pakistan’s top performers from the squad.

The backlash compelled the PCB to reconsider its approach and ensure the involvement of these players in the preparatory phase, if not in the playing XI itself.

While Babar Azam and his fellow teammates have not officially been named in the T20I squad for the Bangladesh series, their presence in the white-ball camp indicates that the selection door is still open for them.

According to the PCB's statement, all members of the announced T20I squad are scheduled to assemble in Karachi on Tuesday.

The players selected for the white-ball camp, including the newly added names, are also expected to report on the same day.

Training schedule & Media opportunities – National Stadium, Karachi

•    9 July – Training from 18:00 to 23:00 (vision only opportunity)
•    10 July – Training from 18:00 to 23:00; a player or support staff member will be available for media talk prior to training
•    11 July – Training from 19:00 to 23:00 (vision only opportunity)
•    12 July – Training from 18:00 to 23:00; a player or support staff member will be available for media talk prior to training
•    13 July – Training from 19:00 to 23:00 (vision only opportunity)
•    14 July – Training from 18:00 to 23:00 (vision-only opportunity)
•    15 July – Training from 19:00 to 23:00; before training, Pakistan T20I Captain Salman Ali Agha will hold a press conference at National Stadium, Karachi