Watch: "Need To Develop" — Pakistan coach Mike Hesson reveals the real reason Mohammad Rizwan was dropped for Australia ODI series 2026

The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, scheduled to be played from May 30 to June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The newly announced squad features several notable changes, but the biggest talking point has been the omission of veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan from the team.

Following the squad announcement, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson finally opened up about the team’s current planning and long-term roadmap. He also spoke about Rizwan’s exclusion from the squad and the return of a few key players. In a video released by the PCB, Hesson explained that the management is focused on building a strong pool of talented players ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

The Pakistan coach further stated that the team management wants to give opportunities to players who can adapt to the modern style of ODI cricket. His comments have now sparked major discussion among fans and experts, especially regarding Rizwan’s future in Pakistan’s white-ball setup.

Watch his special video here:

Hesson's shocking verdict: Rizwan "Not Ready" for Pakistan's ODI future — Is his career over?

Mohammad Rizwan has always been a familiar and important name in Pakistan cricket. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter has played 94 ODI matches since making his debut in 2015 and has been one of the team’s most experienced players in white-ball cricket. However, his omission from Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming Australia series has now become a major talking point among fans and experts. Rizwan was also involved in several controversies during the recent Pakistan vs Bangladesh series, which further increased the attention around his exclusion.

Speaking on the matter, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson did not directly mention Rizwan’s name during his interview, but his comments strongly hinted at the team management’s current approach. The former IPL-winning coach suggested that Pakistan are now looking beyond the same group of players as they begin preparations for the next ODI World Cup.

See also -Pakistan announce 16-member squad for Australia ODI Series — Why is Mohammad Rizwan left out & Shaheen Afridi named captain?

“Look, I think with one-day cricket and the World Cup in mind, which is just a year and a half away, we have to widen the group. Rather than selecting the same players every time, the ODI squad is still a work in progress. There are several areas we need to develop, and we must ensure that by the time the World Cup arrives, we have the best possible squad,” said Hesson.

"Need To Develop" — What Mike Hesson said in his Full Interview that no one is talking about

The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Australia is scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 16-member squad on Friday, with Shaheen Afridi set to lead the side. The squad also marks the return of key players, including Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Sufiyan Muqeem, who had missed the ODI series against Bangladesh earlier this year. Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, and Rohail Nazir are the three uncapped players included in the squad.

Speaking about the return of key players and the opportunities for youngsters, the New Zealand-born said, " With the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, and Usman Khan all sort of being out, it gives some opportunities for us to look at some younger ones, particularly in the batting side. They’ll be exposed to an Australian side who’ll be hurting from their performance over here last time,” Hesson explained. “The last two weeks have been a good chance for us to identify some of that new talent, challenge them against some of the existing stuff, or existing players, and work out where the gaps are, you know, because some of these young guys are promising, but, you know, still got a lot of work to do,” the coach said.

See also -Litton Das mocks Mohammed Rizwan in heated on-field argument during BAN vs PAK 2nd Test in Sylhet — Video goes viral

Pakistan’s squad for the Australia series features several emerging players, and Hesson believes this tour will help the team assess its future talent pool ahead of the ODI World Cup. However, the coach also asked fans to remain patient with the younger players. “I guess there needs to be a little bit of patience with some of these younger players because, sure, it would be great if they come in straight away and perform, but reality in international cricket is not everybody can do that. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to feel that you’re confident enough to perform,” he cautioned. Speaking about Australia, Hesson added, “Their squad looks strong, and they’ll be coming over here. ODI cricket is probably one of their strongest formats at the moment. That group is certainly probably better than their T20 at the moment.”

Who replaces Rizwan? Meet the two uncapped keepers getting their big chance vs Australia

With Rizwan out of the squad, Pakistan have turned to two young and hungry wicketkeeper-batters to fill the void. The team management has placed their trust in Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Rohail Nazir, and both have plenty to prove on the big stage.

Muhammad Ghazi Ghori is the more recently introduced name. In domestic First-Class cricket, he has scored 1,692 runs in 26 matches at an average of 41.26, with three centuries and ten half-centuries. He already has his first ODI cap under his belt, scoring 29 runs on debut. Behind the stumps, he has been sharp and reliable — ticking all the boxes the management is looking for in a modern keeper-batter.

Rohail Nazir brings even more domestic experience to the table. He has scored 2,470 runs in 52 First-Class matches at an average of 34.78, including seven centuries and a highest score of 207. In List A cricket, he has 1,690 runs from 59 matches, and in T20S, he scores at a strike rate of 116.58 — showing he can play attacking cricket when the team needs it. He has also represented Pakistan in T20Is, so he is no stranger to international pressure.

Both Ghori and Nazir are raw, exciting and ready for their moment. Pakistan are clearly building for the 2027 ODI World Cup — and this Australia series is the perfect place to start. One of these two could well make the keeper's spot their own.