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Babar, Shaheen’s likely absence might push Pakistan selectors toward fresh faces for SL T20Is

Rajgeeta Yadav

Pakistan Cricket Board [Source: AFP]Pakistan Cricket Board [Source: AFP]

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is thinking about giving several fresh players a chance in the upcoming T20I series in Sri Lanka, which will be played from January 7 to 11. 

The reason is simple: before the Sri Lanka tour was confirmed, the PCB had already granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to six major national players so they could participate in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). The BBL runs from December 14 until the end of January, overlapping with the Sri Lanka series, creating a selection dilemma for Pakistan.

Notably, this year marks the first time so many top Pakistani stars are featuring in the BBL. Big names like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan are all signed to compete in the tournament. For Babar, Shaheen, and Rizwan, this is their debut season in the league.

Pakistan selectors set to test new players for T20Is in Sri Lanka

Except for Rizwan, who has not played T20Is for Pakistan since December 2024, most of these players are regular members of the national T20 side. Cricket Australia had earlier made it clear to the franchises that the Pakistan players they signed must be available for the entire BBL season. 

According to sources, both boards agreed on this because Pakistan did not have any scheduled international matches during that period. However, the sudden announcement of the Sri Lanka tour has now complicated matters.

"The understanding between CA and PCB was that Pakistan didn't have any international commitments in December and until the last week of January the players could play in the entire Big Bash event. But the situation has changed now," a reliable source said, as quoted by NDTV.

The PCB now has two options: either reopen discussions with Cricket Australia to request early release of the players or move forward with a backup squad for the Sri Lanka series. Sources say many selectors are willing to take the second route, as they see it as a good opportunity to test Pakistan’s bench strength and groom new talent.

Notably, in the past, several foreign leagues have complained when Pakistan players were called back unexpectedly for national duties. Because of this history, the PCB may be more careful this time.

The three-match series in Dambulla will also mark the start of Pakistan’s preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup.