Mike Hesson breaks silence on Babar Azam’s omission from Pakistan ODI squad: ‘I wouldn’t say anyone was dropped’

Pakistan national cricket team white-ball coach Mike Hesson has played down speculation surrounding the squad selected for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh national cricket team, saying the changes should be seen as an opportunity to test new players rather than a purge of senior names.

However, the explanation comes amid a notable development — former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been left out of the squad for the three-match series, along with several other established players, following Pakistan’s disappointing campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking ahead of the series, Hesson stressed that the omissions should not be interpreted as senior players being dropped. Instead, he described the tour as a chance to evaluate emerging talent in a format Pakistan have not played frequently in recent months.

“I wouldn’t say anyone was dropped. We just see this series as an opportunity to give these promising players a chance to prove themselves,” Hesson said during a press conference, according to Press Trust of India.

Senior players miss out

Despite the explanation, exclusions of high-profile players are often seen as selections made at someone’s expense. Apart from Babar Azam, players such as Fakhar Zaman (injured), Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and pacer Naseem Shah were also left out of the touring squad.

In their place, Pakistan have introduced several new faces, including Sahibzada Farhan, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood and Shamyl Hussain.

Rewarding domestic form

Hesson explained that several newcomers had forced their way into the squad through strong performances in domestic and white-ball cricket.

“Sahibzada Farhan has forced himself into the ODI squad because of his exceptional performances in T20s, and then young players like Shamyl Hussain or Maaz Sadaqat have been doing well in domestic cricket and junior sides,” he said.

The selections suggest Pakistan’s management wants to create stronger competition for places while also identifying players for future tournaments, including the next ICC Cricket World Cup.

Tough test in Bangladesh

Hesson also warned against viewing the Bangladesh tour as an easy assignment.

“The series will not be easy as Bangladesh have been playing a lot more one-day cricket than us. I see this series as a big opportunity for these new players,” he said.

Bangladesh, particularly at home, are considered a challenging opponent. By fielding a relatively inexperienced squad, Pakistan are effectively giving young players a chance to prove themselves in what could be a demanding series if they fail to settle quickly.

While Hesson insists the omissions are not about dropping senior players, the squad overhaul signals that Pakistan are actively searching for the next generation of cricketers in a potentially testing environment.