Pakistani cricket fans are unlikely to see their star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah returning to international cricket soon. These players were expected to feature in the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against West Indies, but it now looks doubtful.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the West Indies Cricket Board to replace the three scheduled ODIs with five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). This request is linked to Pakistan’s preparation for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup. However, West Indies have not yet responded, and if they refuse, Pakistan may cut short the tour.
According to sources, Pakistan will travel to the United States first and play three T20 matches against West Indies in Florida on August 1, 3, and 4. Additionally, a friendly T20 match between Pakistan and the USA is also planned. This U.S. leg is significant because last year, Pakistan suffered a surprising defeat to the USA in a T20 World Cup match decided by a Super Over.
The ODI series in the West Indies is scheduled for August 8, 10, and 12 in Trinidad and Tobago, but PCB might delay this series and reschedule it for later. Meanwhile, the West Indies board continues to promote tickets for both the T20 and ODI matches, though PCB’s plans remain uncertain.
The Pakistan team for the T20 series is expected to include younger players such as Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, and Salman Ali Agha as captain. Veteran stars like Babar Azam, Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah may only be included if there are injuries. The team is focusing on building a strong pool of 25 players for upcoming major tournaments. Fans may need to wait for these stars to return in full form after the World Cup preparations.