Pak vs Ban: Asif, Imad left out as Green Shirts announce 12-man squad for 1st T20I

E-Paper | May 07, 2026

Asif Ali and Imad Wasim were the notable absentees as Pakistan announced their 12-man squad for the first Twenty20 International (T20I) match against Bangladesh that is set to be played on Friday.

The first T20I will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium on Friday, the statement said, adding that the second and third T20Is would also be played at the same venue on November 20 and 22.

Pakistan's 12-player squad as confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is:

Babar Azam (captain)
Shadab Khan (vice captain)
Fakhar Zaman
Haider Ali
Haris Rauf
Hasan Ali
Khushdil Shah
Mohammad Nawaz
Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
Mohammad Wasim Jr
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shoaib Malik

Mohammad Hafeez had withdrawn from the series in order to "give opportunities to younger players".

The men’s cricket team is in Bangladesh after a gap of five years. Along with the T20is, they will play two ICC World Test Championship matches as well.

The national side’s tour is part of the Future Tours Programme and follows the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

After the T20Is, the two teams will travel to Chattogram for the first of the two Tests at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium from November 26-30. This match will see the two sides face off in the apex form of the game on Bangladeshi soil for the first time since May 2015, when Pakistan won a two-match series by completing a victory in the final Test by a mammoth 328 runs.

The two teams will then return to Dhaka to play the final Test, which will start from December 4.

Pakistan have an immaculate record in Tests against Bangladesh, with 10 wins from 11 matches. They also enjoy an impressive record in T20Is against Bangladesh, having won 10 out of 12 matches.

Fixtures

Nov 19: First T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

Nov 20: Second T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

Nov 22: Third T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

Nov 26-30: First Test, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram

Dec 4-8: Second Test, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

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Eb Raar

Nov 18, 2021 12:19pm

Why Hafeez and Malik did not announce retirements after t20 wc 2021? Do they want to cling for another year or so?

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Assadullah Hamza

Nov 18, 2021 12:49pm

Y not Shahnawaz Dahani?????

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Maxx

Nov 18, 2021 12:51pm

Selection of 40+ years old is big no no for T20 cricket!

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raj

Nov 18, 2021 12:57pm

This is Punjab cricket team, learn from how UK tackled discrimination and racial issues with reference to Yorkshire Cricket Club

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Zunaira

Nov 18, 2021 01:03pm

Lol No middle order at all.

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Jedi

Nov 18, 2021 01:04pm

I m opinion Hasan Ali and Fakhar Zaman should be dropped instead of dropping Asif and Imad wasim.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 18, 2021 01:39pm

United we stand, divided we fall.

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Ghulam

Nov 18, 2021 01:45pm

Hasan Ali the under performer , who cost us the Final has again made to list. Is it National Team or Friend's Team. The Sifarishi and Dosti culture will keep costing us.

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Ghulam

Nov 18, 2021 01:50pm

Ace Shahnawaz Dhabi left out again. Hasan Ali selected on "Pakistan C Team / domicile" quota.

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Syed

Nov 18, 2021 01:52pm

I think Rizwan should have been rested. Safaraz could have come in his place for this series

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Tahir

Nov 18, 2021 02:01pm

Kick out Shoaib malik from the squad. He does not deserve it, pls give chance to young players.

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Malik Munsaf

Nov 18, 2021 02:03pm

What is Malik doing in this Squad? Hafeez himself withdraw. Why does he still want to hang around? Now is the timw to test youngsters.

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Pakistani

Nov 18, 2021 02:14pm

Shahnawaz Dahani should have been included

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Nov 18, 2021 02:32pm

@raj, Seriously???

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saam husain

Nov 18, 2021 02:59pm

@Assadullah Hamza, because they don't want talented people who is sindhi

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Salman

Nov 18, 2021 03:06pm

Malik performed well but not sure about Hafeez but seriously why they picked Khushdil. Asif has always been better choice than him

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raj

Nov 18, 2021 03:34pm

@FF, Google each name and find out

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Syed

Nov 18, 2021 03:51pm

@Assadullah Hamza, it's a spin friendly pitch.

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Emraan UK

Nov 18, 2021 04:39pm

Asif Ali will be missed!

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Realistic

Nov 18, 2021 04:45pm

It's okay. What about Hasan Ali, he shouldn't be in T20 team

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Shahid

Nov 18, 2021 04:46pm

Why wouldn't they rest Hassan Ali or Haris Rauf and give a chance to Dahani?

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Harris

Nov 18, 2021 04:56pm

Why on earth is Malik there? Where has Iftikhars name gone?

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Akil Akhtar

Nov 18, 2021 05:15pm

Hasan Ali should have bene dropped...Babar cost the country world cup just to support his friend...

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Owais Javed

Nov 18, 2021 05:19pm

Why Hassan Ali is there? His performance was poor throughout the world cup even in PSL Hasan Ali did not play well. Dahani is much better than him.

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Aamir J Khan

Nov 18, 2021 06:50pm

No place of Hassan Ali. I am sure he will perform in this series and justify his position in the team against a weaker team

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optimist

Nov 18, 2021 06:51pm

Pakistan should have rested several key plyers to give them a break. Shaheen Shah Afridi needs a break for sure.

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Riazullah Baig

Nov 18, 2021 07:05pm

@Eb Raar, they don't like to do it the noble way out!

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Noor Ali

Nov 18, 2021 07:08pm

Shoabib Malik at 40 years , I can see Pakistan’s future looking very bright.

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Pak-UK

Nov 18, 2021 08:05pm

Not sure why they are not giving chance to Dhani. He must be given fair chance.

Recommend 0

Nov 18, 2021 08:36pm

Whatever you do but do not play any game with India

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Texan

Nov 18, 2021 08:47pm

Consistent non performer for last 6 games and Shadab's friend Hasan Ali is still there. Why Shoib Malik is playing these meaningless matches where we should b giving chance to 2022 T20 world cup team. Players like Dhani and Haider Ali should be tried now.

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Shabbir Ahmed

Nov 18, 2021 10:44pm

Shoib Malik is capten

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Shabbir Ahmed

Nov 18, 2021 10:46pm

Malik is captain

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Abdullah

Nov 19, 2021 06:15am

Good decision to drop Imad Wasim. Neither his bowling nor batting suitable for limited over game.

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S M Qasim Qasim Alvi

Nov 19, 2021 06:56am

@Eb Raar, ..there is another worldcup of t20 next year so maybe after that.

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Ahmed Askari

Nov 19, 2021 07:14am

Hassan Ali cannot be abandoned as he deserves to be in the team. He is actually the only who is making sure to not to improve and we love these kind of individuals.

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What the?

Nov 19, 2021 08:29am

@Eb Raar, You mean another 20 years?

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KevinGarnett

Nov 19, 2021 10:00am

They should be played to Asif

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