Aaqib Javed provides update on Pakistan squad announcement for Bangladesh tour

The Pakistan team is set to arrive in Bangladesh on July 16, with the three matches scheduled for July 20, 22, and 24

PHOTO: AP

Director of High Performance, Aaqib Javed, has confirmed that the Pakistan squad for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh will be announced within the next couple of days.

Speaking to the media after the conclusion of the Skills Development Camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, Aaqib said, “The national team will be announced in a day or two. A lot of work has already been done on selection, and the final decision will be made soon.”

The T20I series against Bangladesh is scheduled to begin on July 20 at the Shere-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The Pakistan team is set to arrive in Bangladesh on July 16, with the three matches scheduled for July 20, 22, and 24. All matches will begin at 5:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST).

Aaqib also addressed the absence of fast bowler Haris Rauf from the recent training camps. He clarified that Rauf is currently playing for San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, but fans can expect to see him in action during the upcoming series.

“There are two tours ahead — one to Bangladesh and the other to the West Indies. The T20Is will be played in the USA, followed by ODIs in the Caribbean. These are ideal opportunities to test our bench strength, and Haris Rauf is likely to feature,” he added.

In addition to preparations for the national side, Aaqib mentioned that the High-Performance department will resume camps after the Ashura break. These camps will focus on players selected for Pakistan Shaheens’ T20 tournament in Darwin and the red-ball squad preparing for the home Test series against South Africa.

“We’re working with both the Shaheens and the red-ball players. Pitches are being prepared to mimic local conditions so that players are better equipped for the South Africa Test series,” Aaqib concluded.

Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has already started ticket sales for the white-ball series against Pakistan, signaling that the originally agreed schedule will go ahead. The PCB had proposed converting the ODI leg into additional T20Is to help Pakistan better prepare for the 2025 Asia Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup. However, with ticket sales underway, the current itinerary appears confirmed.

Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I series schedule:

20 July – 1st T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka – 5:00 PM (PST)
22 July – 2nd T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka – 5:00 PM (PST)
24 July – 3rd T20I, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka – 5:00 PM (PST)

Pakistan's white-ball tour of the West Indies – complete schedule

T20 Internationals

July 31: 1st T20I – Central Broward Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida – 5:00 AM (PST)
August 2: 2nd T20I – Central Broward Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida – 5:00 AM (PST)
August 3: 3rd T20I – Central Broward Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida – 5:00 AM (PST)

One-Day Internationals (ODIs)