Why was Mohammad Rizwan dropped from Pakistan squad for PAK vs AUS ODI series?
(Courtesy : ICC)
Mohammad Rizwan has been axed from the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match PAK vs AUS series.
Pakistan had a disastrous time in Bangladesh. They suffered a 0-2 whitewash in the Test series. With this, they also recorded an embarrassing record of losing four consecutive Test matches against Bangladesh, which has never happened before. Now, Pakistan are all set to host Australia for a three-match ODI series, starting on May 30 in Rawalpindi.
The other two matches will take place in Lahore on June 2 and 4, respectively. Australia announced a new-look squad, which doesn’t have big names like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head. These superstars are currently part of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
On Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also announced the 16-member squad for the upcoming ODI, which has some big surprises for the fans. Former ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan, who led Pakistan to a 2-1 series win over Australia last time, is not part of the squad.
Why was Mohammad Rizwan dropped for PAK vs AUS ODI series?
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been retained as captain and will lead a star-studded Pakistan team. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman have not recovered from their injuries and are not part of the team.
Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Sufyan Muqeem, who were not part of the last ODI series in Bangladesh, are back. But Rizwan was a big miss from the squad. Notably, Rizwan had a decent Test series in Bangladesh, where he finished as Pakistan’s leading scorer with 181 runs at an average of 45.25.
He scored a fighting 94 in the fourth innings of the second test, when Pakistan were chasing 436 runs. Pakistan have gone with Ghazi Ghori and Rohail Nazir as the wicket-keeping options. Rizwan’s exclusion has come as a shock to many fans.
It has been learned that the PCB management, including head coach Mike Hesson, wants to move on from the “conservative batting approach.” Rizwan, who was part of the Bangladesh ODIs, struggled with the form. He scored only 58 runs in three innings.
Adding to that, Hesson seems to want to move away from Rizwan in the ODI setup. Earlier, the head coach also axed him from the T20I setup. Further, the management is not considering Rizwan for the ODI World Cup 2027 and is planning to give sufficient opportunities to the other young options like Ghori and Nazir.
Pakistan squad for Australia ODIs
Shaheen Shah Afridi (C), Salman Ali Agha (VC), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (WK), Rohail Nazir (WK), Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufyan Moqim
When will the PAK vs AUS ODI series begin?
The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Australia will begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi.
Who will lead Pakistan in the upcoming ODI series against Australia?
Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead Pakistan in the upcoming ODI series against Australia.
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Karan Rawat is a seasoned cricket writer with a deep passion for the game and over 5 years of experience covering everything that the game can offer. He loves to share the analysis, match reports, and player profiles and tries to bring stories to life with a unique blend of statistics and storytelling. Whether breaking down Test match tactics or capturing the drama of a T20 thriller, Karan's work connects fans with the soul of the sport.