Senior Pakistani batters Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik will not take part in the upcoming home series against West Indies as per the sources in PCB. 

Pakistan is due to play West Indies in three-T20I and three-ODI series at home next month. The first T20I will begin on 13th December in Karachi followed by the second and third match on 14th and 16th December respectively at the same venue. 

The first 50-over series will kick start from 18th December with the second and third games to be played on 20th and 22nd December respectively. All the ODIs will be played in Karachi. 

It is learned that both Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik have informed the skipper Babar Azam and coach Saqlain Mushtaq they will not be available for the selection due to their T20 league commitments across the globe. 

A PCB source said that Shoaib Malik has said that he wants to focus on T20 leagues and selectors should pick him only for important series. While Hafeez has told that he’s busy with Lankan Premier League and youngsters should be given chance in place of him. 

“Malik has said that he wants to focus on playing in T20 leagues and the Pakistani selectors should only consider him for selection for select and important series. 

“Hafeez, on the other hand, has said he is skipping the West Indies series as he is busy with the Lankan Premier League and the selectors should give a chance to some young players,” PCB source said. 

A source said that PCB has decided to give more exposure to youngsters to prepare them for the future instead of waiting around for Hafeez and Malik.  

“Basically it has been decided to now start giving more exposure to players like Haider Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Danish Aziz, Azam khan to prepare them for the future instead of waiting around for Hafeez and Malik,” he said. 

Pakistan is currently in Bangladesh. They will be seen in action on 26th November when they take on hosts in the first Test match. 

(PTI inputs)