Shan Masood rejects Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan's selection for Bangladesh Tests in a controversial move

Pakistan Cricket Team is yet again marred by the controversy. As per the reports in Samaa TV, it is learned that Test captain Shan Masood isn't keen to include Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi in the squad for the series against Bangladesh.

Shan Masood reportedly has told management that he wants to play Sarfaraz Ahmed instead of Mohammad Rizwan and in place of Shaheen Afridi, he has a list of fast bowlers who can take up the role in the Test team for the upcoming series against Bangladesh National Cricket Team.

Pakistan will be hosting Bangladesh in the two-match Test series in August this year. The two games will be part of the ICC World Test Championship and the Shan Masood-led side would be hoping to take full advantage of the home conditions and bag crucial points.

There were reports recently which claimed Shan Masood, head coach Jason Gillespie, and the selection committee have already started to work out the plans for the series and have also discussed the players they want to be in the team for the series.

The reports claimed that Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi were in line to be rested for the series. But the new reports in Samaa TV suggest that skipper Shan Masood doesn't want them in the team, which doesn't make things look great in the Pakistan team.

It was also learned that even fast bowler Haris Rauf won't be considered for the selection. The pacers that are likely to get the nod in the team for the Test series against Bangladesh will be Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, and Aamer Jamal.

If the reports of Shan Masood not wanting Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi in the series against Bangladesh emerge to be true, it will be a massive blow for the team. The trio has been the backbone of the team in all three formats of the game for the last few years and it will be interesting to see how the team plays without them.

Shan Masood would be keen to make an impact as Test captain

Pakistan's white-ball team has been having a horrible time under the leadership of Babar Azam for the last few months. They recently faced an early exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and faced a lot of criticism. But on the other hand, Shan Masood would be keen to make an impact in red-ball.

This will be Shan Masood’s second assignment after being named captain last year. He first led the side against Australia in a three-Test series which Pakistan lost by 3-0 in Australia. But with home series now, he will have a great opportunity to register his first win.

He along with coach Jason Gillespie, who was appointed as head coach of the Pakistan Test team in April, would be keen to build the team for the future and instill confidence in youngsters by winning the series.