Head coach Mike Hesson has defended the decision to leave star batter Babar Azam out of the Pakistan squad for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh. He insisted that the move is part of the team’s preparations for the ICC ODI World Cup 2027.

Pakistan will kick off their build-up to the global event with a three-match away ODI series against Bangladesh, and the selection has already sparked discussion after the omission of the former captain and their top-ranked ODI batter.

However, Hesson clarified that the decision should not be seen as a player being dropped but rather as an opportunity for emerging talent to prove themselves.

“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 told reporters.

Babar Azam has faced criticism following a below-par campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, prompting Pakistan’s management to experiment with fresh options as they begin shaping their squad for the 2027 tournament.

“Sahibzada Farhan has forced himself into the ODI squad" - Mike Hesson

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the shake-up is opening batter Sahibzada Farhan, who earned his place in the ODI setup after a remarkable T20 World Cup performance. Farhan finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, piling up 383 runs, the most by any batter in a single edition of the event.

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Hesson said Farhan’s exploits made his selection unavoidable while also highlighting the progress of several youngsters making waves in domestic cricket.

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

Despite Pakistan’s experimental squad, the coach warned that the series against Bangladesh would not be straightforward, especially with the hosts having played comparatively more ODI cricket recently.

“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 added.

The squad will be led by pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi and features a mix of experienced campaigners and promising newcomers as Pakistan begin laying the groundwork for the 2027 World Cup.