Babar Azam Returns as Pakistan Names Squads for South Africa Series and T20 Tri-Series

ISLAMABAD: Former captain Babar Azam has made a much-anticipated return to Pakistan’s T20 International squad as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced squads on Thursday for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa and the T20 tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

The 15-member T20I squad, selected for matches from October 28 to November 1 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, also sees the comeback of Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah. Usman Tariq is the only uncapped player named in the squad. This group will also represent Pakistan in the T20 tri-series scheduled between November 17 and 29 at the same venues.

A separate 16-member ODI squad was also named for the series against South Africa and Sri Lanka, with Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, and Haseebullah returning to the side. The ODI matches will be played from November 4 to 15 across Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.

Babar and Mohammad Rizwan had been omitted from the earlier Asia Cup and warm-up tri-series T20 squads, with Salman Ali Agha leading the side. Head coach Mike Hesson had noted that Babar was advised to improve his strike rate and approach against spin bowling.

Pakistan T20I Squad (15 members):

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, 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

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 (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

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Schedule Highlights:

South Africa Tour:

• Oct 28: 1st T20I – Rawalpindi

• Oct 31: 2nd T20I – Lahore

• Nov 1: 3rd T20I – Lahore

• Nov 4, 6, 8: ODI Series – Faisalabad

Sri Lanka Tour:

• Nov 11, 13, 15: ODI Series – Rawalpindi

T20 Tri-Series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe):

• Nov 17 to Nov 29: Matches across Rawalpindi and Lahore, culminating in the final on Nov 29 at Lahore