Lahore, 14 March 2026:
Pakistan selectors said injuries were the primary reason several senior players were left out of the current squad, rejecting speculation that the omissions were part of a permanent overhaul following the team’s disappointing ICC tournament campaign.
National selector Aqib Javed told reporters Saturday that some players, including experienced members of the recent World Cup squad, were unavailable due to fitness concerns.
“Some players have not been included because of injuries. They wanted to play, but they are not fully fit for this series,” Aqib said at a press conference in Lahore.
He added that medical updates are handled by team management during tournaments.
“When the team is on tour, injury and fitness reports are handled by the head coach and physio, and they keep us informed. Once the squad is selected, those updates come from the team management,” he said.
Questions were raised about why certain players did not feature during the tournament despite being part of the squad, but the selectors insisted the playing XI was not their decision.
“We select the squad in consultation with the coach and captain. After that, the final XI is their responsibility. We do not force anyone to play a particular player,” Aqib said.
Former captain and selector Misbah-ul-Haq said the focus now is on building a stable group for the next major events.
“You cannot change the whole team after every series. Selection must consider performance, potential and what the team needs in each position,” Misbah said.
Pakistan are expected to begin planning for the 2027 World Cup cycle, with selectors saying a wider pool of players will be monitored in domestic competitions.
