Former captain Babar Azam T20 return has been confirmed as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads for the upcoming white-ball series on Thursday.
The National Selection Committee named a 15-member squad for the T20I series against South Africa, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 28 to November 1. The same squad will also participate in the T20 tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, to be played at the same venues from November 17 to 29.
In the T20I lineup, Babar Azam, Abdul Samad, and Naseem Shah have returned after missing recent events. Usman Tariq is the only uncapped player in the squad, according to the PCB press release.
A 16-member squad has also been announced for the ODI series against South Africa and Sri Lanka, beginning after the ongoing Test series.
T20I Squad:
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 (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Moqim
ODI Squad:
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 (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Series Schedule
South Africa tour to Pakistan
-
Oct 28 – 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
-
Oct 31 – 2nd T20I, Lahore
-
Nov 1 – 3rd T20I, Lahore
-
Nov 4–8 – ODI series, Faisalabad
Background
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were previously left out of the T20 squad for the Asia Cup, with Salman Ali Agha leading the side.
Head coach Mike Hesson had said that Babar Azam was asked to work on his strike rate and play against spin — a concern the selectors now believe he has addressed.
