Rizwan Backs Ghazi Ghori As Pakistan Name Squad Including Saad Masood For Bangladesh ODIs
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has publicly defended the selection of Ghazi Ghori while Pakistan finalised an ODI squad that includes saad masood for the upcoming Bangladesh series. Rizwan characterized Ghori’s inclusion as performance-based and urged critics to allow young players to develop.
Rizwan Defends Ghazi Ghori’s Selection
Addressing the national team’s training camp in Karachi, Rizwan said Ghazi Ghori earned his place on merit. He noted that everyone is entitled to an opinion but framed the pick as a positive step for team depth in the wicketkeeping department.
Rizwan, who has represented Pakistan in 100 ODIs, argued that encouraging more wicketkeepers through the system could help Pakistan find long-term solutions in that role. He also cautioned against underestimating Bangladesh in their home conditions, saying the series may look straightforward on paper but that Bangladesh are a tough side in familiar venues.
Rizwan further stressed the importance of leadership having input on selection decisions, saying the captain must have a voice in selection matters if they are to lead effectively on the field.
Saad Masood Named In Pakistan ODI Squad
The announced squad for the Bangladesh tour includes Saad Masood among other players. The group named for the three-match ODI series features a mix of established players and newly selected faces, with multiple uncapped players included as part of a broader talent injection strategy. The list of players announced for the tour includes Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain.
saad masood appears on the roster alongside several changes that saw some established names left out of the squad. Pakistan’s selection committee opted to bring in six uncapped players, among them Ghori, highlighting a clear push to broaden the pool of options ahead of the series.
Series Schedule, Squad Context And Stakes
The three-match ODI series will be played in Dhaka from March 11 to 15, with matches scheduled at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on March 11, March 13 and March 15. The touring squad arrives after substantial changes that followed Pakistan’s recent international programme, with a number of regulars omitted and a group of newcomers given opportunities at the international level.
Ghori’s domestic List A record was cited during selection discussions; he has 206 runs in 17 List A appearances with an average of 20. 60 and a strike rate of 79. 53. That statistical profile has drawn debate among fans and former players, but Rizwan urged patience and emphasized performance-based selection as the guiding principle.
With the series imminent, attention will turn to how the new faces in the squad perform in Bangladesh’s conditions and whether the selection approach delivers the intended depth and competition, particularly in the wicketkeeping slot and the batting lineup.
