Mohammad Rizwan Likely to Be Dropped as PCB Backs Rohail Nazir for Upcoming T20 Series

Karachi:With Mohammad Haris impressing in the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, the future of senior players Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam in Pakistan’s T20 setup appears uncertain. According to sources, wicketkeeper-batsman Rohail Nazir is now being seriously considered by the selectors for upcoming series against Bangladesh and West Indies.

The selectors have reportedly agreed to give the talented Rohail Nazir an opportunity, with strong indications that Rizwan and Babar may not feature in T20 internationals for the next six months. Their potential return could be reconsidered during the Test series against South Africa in November. However, their comeback in T20Is is being described as “not just difficult, but nearly impossible.”

Significant decisions regarding team composition are underway. However, the PCB has not yet officially notified the roles of Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sikander Bakht, despite their participation in recent selection meetings held in Islamabad and Lahore. According to the PCB website, the current selection panel includes Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, and Hasan Cheema.

Sources suggest that Sarfaraz and Sikander have been assigned the role of observing selectors’ performance and drawing attention to overlooked players. Meanwhile, Aqib Javed, Mike Hesson, and Salman Ali Agha are reportedly playing active roles in the key selection decisions. It has been agreed to include Rohail Nazir in future T20 plans during the recent Lahore meeting.

On the injury front, pacers Naseem Shah and Aamir Jamal remain sidelined due to fitness issues and will need more time to fully recover. Young pacer Ali Raza, who represented Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, is currently not under consideration for the national team due to a vision-related issue affecting his performance under floodlights. He is undergoing medical consultation and is expected to be groomed through the Pakistan Shaheens setup.

Mike Hesson has temporarily returned to New Zealand and is expected back in Karachi by July 7. The training camp for the Bangladesh T20I series is scheduled to begin on July 10. The official announcement regarding Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sikander Bakht’s appointments is still pending.