Pakistan cricket team arrive in Dhaka

Pakistan's national men's cricket team reached Dhaka on Wednesday to play a three-match T20 series against Bangladesh starting July 20.

The matches scheduled for July 20, 22, and 24 - all to be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The series will take place just two months after Bangladesh toured Pakistan in May, where they were whitewashed 3-0.

Ahead of the series, Pakistan T20 captain Salman Agha has made it clear that his side is not taking Bangladesh lightly. Speaking at a press conference at Karachi's National Bank Stadium before departing for Dhaka, Salman emphasized the team's focused preparation.

"We are not underestimating Bangladesh. Our training camp in Karachi was intense and thorough. We've worked hard to overcome our weaknesses and have practiced in conditions we expect to face in Bangladesh," Salman said.

Recent leadership changes in Pakistan cricket have sparked discussions about the future captaincy across formats. Currently, Shan Masood leads the Test side while Mohammad Rizwan captains the ODI team. However, rumors have circulated that Salman Agha could be appointed captain in all three formats.

"There's been talk about me becoming captain in all formats - but that news is coming from you (the media), not from the board. As of now, I've had no discussions regarding ODI captaincy."

Notably absent from this tour are Pakistan's star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Addressing their absence, Salman clarified that the trio are still part of Pakistan's 2026 T20 World Cup plans.

"We need players who can replace anyone at any time. That's why we're building a strong bench. As part of our long-term planning, we've finalized a pool of 25 players, and they will be rotated and groomed through to the World Cup," Salman explained.

The tour comes after Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to mend bilateral ties last year, paving the way for renewed engagements between the two sides.
The series in Dhaka also offers an opportunity for newer players like Hassan Nawaz and spinner Moqim to gain international experience, while selectors continue testing bench strength ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.

Pakistan last toured Bangladesh in November 2021 when they also won a T20I series 3-0.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20Is:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.