Pakistan have recalled senior stars Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the upcoming T20I series against Australia, signalling a shift back to experience as selectors announced a 16-member squad on Friday for the three-match contest in Lahore later this month.
The duo had been rested for Pakistan’s recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, where Shadab Khan made his return to international cricket. Shadab has retained his place and will lead a strong spin-bowling group that includes Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The T20I series will be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, with matches scheduled for January 29, January 31 and February 1, all starting at 4pm PKT.
The PCB said Pakistan’s players and support staff are expected to assemble in Lahore on January 24, with preparations for the series set to begin the following day. Australia will arrive in Pakistan on January 28, marking only their second T20I series on Pakistani soil, following a solitary match played in Lahore in April 2022.
A day earlier, Babar Azam confirmed that he would miss the remainder of the Big Bash League after being recalled for a national training camp ahead of the series.
Australia have already announced their 17-member squad for the tour and have opted to rest several senior players, including Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis.
Pakistan T20I Squad (16 Players)
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq
Player Support Personnel
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 (r) Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Dr Raheel Karim (psychiatrist), Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)
