Pakistan Considers Resting Senior Players for Bangladesh Tests

Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider resting senior players for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh in August. Captain Babar Azam, wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi are among those who may be given a break.

Sources within the PCB indicate that Test captain Shan Masood and new red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie are in discussions to finalize plans for the Bangladesh series. The board is also in touch with white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten to coordinate preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.

One proposal under consideration is to field a team of uncapped or less experienced players for the Bangladesh Tests. This would allow the senior players to rest and recover ahead of a busy schedule that includes tours of Australia, South Africa, and England.

The PCB is also seeking to establish a workload management system for players, balancing their availability for the national team with their commitments to franchise-based leagues.

Meanwhile, the board is awaiting a report from Kirsten on the team culture, player behavior, and skill levels. This report will inform decisions on potential changes to the ODI and T20 squads.

The PCB is also considering reducing the number of national selectors and reverting to the previous selection process.

Tags: #PakistanCricket, #T20WorldCup, #BangladeshSeries, #BabarAzam, #MuhammadRizwan