The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the national squads for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa, marking the return of former captain Babar Azam and fast bowler Naseem Shah to the T20 International side.
According to the PCB, a 15-member T20I squad and a 16-member ODI squad have been finalized for the home series, with both teams set to feature in the upcoming Sri Lanka ODI series and the Tri-Nation T20 tournament involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in November.
In a significant inclusion, Usman Tariq has received his maiden call-up to the T20 International squad following his impressive domestic performances. Salman Ali Agha has been named captain of the T20 side, while Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead Pakistan in the ODIs.
The selectors have opted for a balanced mix of youth and experience in both formats. Apart from the returns of Babar and Naseem, the T20 squad also includes Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saim Ayub, and Shaheen Afridi. Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Sufyan Muqeem have been placed in the reserves for the T20s.
The ODI squad features Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Hussain Talat, Haseebullah, and Faheem Ashraf, along with pacers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. Spinner Faisal Akram has also been retained, reflecting the selectors’ confidence in his potential on home pitches.
Pakistan will face South Africa in the T20 series from October 28 to November 1, followed by the Tri-Nation T20 tournament featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The PCB said the continuity in selection is part of a broader strategy to prepare a stable core group ahead of a packed international calendar and upcoming global tournaments.
