Babar Azam makes T20 comeback as PCB announces squads for home series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the national squads for the upcoming home T20 and ODI series, with former captain Babar Azam making his long-awaited return to the T20 lineup. The 15-member T20 squad also features Usman Tariq, a new inclusion.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the T20 side, while Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah have also made their comebacks. In the ODI squad, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named captain, with Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, and Haseebullah joining the 16-member lineup.

The squads will remain same throughout the three rounds of the home series against South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

The T20 series with South Africa is scheduled to begin at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 28, followed by two matches in Lahore. A three-match ODI series will then take place in Faisalabad.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are set to contest a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15 in Rawalpindi, after which a T20I tri-series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will kick off on November 17, concluding with the final on November 28 in Lahore.

Babar Azam’s comeback has been warmly received by fans, as the star batter last featured in a T20 match against South Africa on December 13, 2024.

His absence was deeply felt during the Asia Cup, where Pakistan struggled with an inconsistent batting lineup, prompting widespread calls for his return.

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

Shahen 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

Reserve Players

Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufyan Muqim are part of the squad as reserve players.