LAHORE: Pakistan have recalled senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi to the national squad for the upcoming three match T20I series against Australia, selectors announced on Friday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board named a 16 member squad for the home series, marking the return of the two experienced campaigners after they were left out of the recent T20Is against Sri Lanka. That series saw the comeback of all rounder Shadab Khan, who has retained his place.
The squad will be led by Salman Ali Agha and includes a varied bowling attack featuring pace options Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Junior, alongside a strong spin group comprising Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Usman Tariq.
According to the PCB, the Pakistan players and support staff will assemble in Lahore on January 24, with training sessions scheduled to begin the following day. All three matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, January 31 and February 1, with each game starting at 4pm Pakistan time.
Australia are due to arrive in Pakistan on January 28. The series will be only Australia’s second T20I assignment on Pakistani soil, following a lone match played in Lahore in April 2022.
Earlier this week, Babar Azam confirmed that he had withdrawn from the remainder of Australia’s Big Bash League after being called back for national duty ahead of the series.
Australia have already announced their squad and opted to rest several senior players, including captain Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis.
Pakistan selectors have included three wicketkeeping options in Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan, while Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub are set to provide depth at the top of the batting order.
Pakistan squad:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq
Support staff:
Naveed Akram Cheema (team manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Hanif Malik (batting coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (performance analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmed (media manager), Lt Col retired Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Dr Raheel Karim (psychiatrist) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)
The series is part of Pakistan’s preparations ahead of a busy international calendar and is expected to draw strong crowds in Lahore.
