Babar returns to T20I as PCB announces squads for white-ball series




Pakistan’s then captain Babar Azam plays a shot during the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup match against Canada on June 11, 2024. – AFP

LAHORE: Former captain Babar Azam has returned to the Pakistan T20I squad as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the squads for the upcoming white-ball home season against South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Babar, who last played in a T20I during the December 2024 series against South Africa in Centurion, was out for the 2025 Bangladesh, West Indies and Asia Cup series.

A 15-member squad has been selected for the T20I series against South Africa and the subsequent three-nation event, while a 16-member line-up has been selected for the ODIs against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as T20I captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the national team in ODIs for the first time. The T20I squad also saw the return of Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah, while Usman Tariq earned his first call-up.

For the ODIs, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf and Haseebullah have been recalled to the national line-up.

The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa will be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 28 to November 1, followed by a three-match ODI series in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8.

Pakistan will then host Sri Lanka for another ODI series in Rawalpindi from November 11 to 15, before turning their attention to the T20I tri-series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe) from November 17 to 29.

Pakistan T20I squad (15 members):

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq.

Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Moqim.

Pakistan ODI squad (16 members):

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha.

Schedule

South Africa T20I

October 28 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st T20I, Rawalpindi

October 31 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 2nd T20I, Lahore

November 1 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd T20I, Lahore

ODIs from South Africa

November 4 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st ODI, Faisalabad

November 6 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 2nd ODI, Faisalabad

November 8 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd ODI, Faisalabad

Sri Lanka ODIs

November 11 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

November 13 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi

November 15 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi

T20I Tri-Series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)

November 17 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi

November 19 – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi

November 22 – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore

November 23 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Lahore

November 25 – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Lahore

November 27 – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Lahore

November 29 – Final, Lahore



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