Mike Hesson explains Pakistan ODI squad

Mike Hesson explains Babar’s rest, new‑player push and Bangladesh challenge ahead of Pakistan’s ODI series.

Pakistan’s white‑ball coach Mike Hesson has tried to calm the storm after Babar Azam and a handful of senior players were left out of the ODI squad for the three‑match series against Bangladesh, starting 11 March.

Babar’s “rest”

The former captain, who finished the 2026 T20 World Cup with just 91 runs from four innings at a strike‑rate of 112.34, wasn’t dropped – Hesson says he’s being rested so new faces can get a look‑in.

“I wouldn’t call anyone dropped. We see this series as a chance for promising players to prove themselves,” Hesson told reporters. Takeaway: giving a star a breather can open the door for fresh talent.

Who’s in, who’s out

Alongside Babar, the squad also omits injured Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz and Naseem Shah.

In their place are the likes of Sahib Farhan (the highest run‑scorer in the T20 World Cup), Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood and Shamyl Hussain.

Hesson notes that Farhan’s T20 heroics forced his way into the XI, while the youngsters – especially Hussain and Sadaqat – have been lighting up domestic cricket. Takeaway: a mix of form‑driven veterans and hungry youngsters can give the side new firepower.

The Bangladesh test

Hesson is quick to point out that Bangladesh won’t be a cakewalk. “They’ve been playing a lot more one‑day cricket than us,” he said, calling the series a “big opportunity for these new players.”

He likens the tour to a lab‑bench experiment: you throw in some new ingredients and see what chemistry you get. Takeaway: the series is a trial run that could reshape Pakistan’s ODI outlook.

In short, the coach is trying to roll with the punches, hoping the shake‑up hits the nail on the head and gives Pakistan a sturdier one‑day unit for the future.

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