The PCB has announced the return of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah for the ODI and T20I series against Australia, while they will not participate in the subsequent Zimbabwe series. Captaincy details remain unannounced. The squads feature both new and experienced players, aiming to prepare for the Champions Trophy in February.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the return of key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia. However, these players will not participate in the subsequent series against Zimbabwe. The PCB has yet to announce the captain for these tours, with a press conference expected later today featuring PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Mohammad Rizwan, a leading candidate for captaincy, will be rested during the T20I matches against Zimbabwe. In terms of squad selection, Salman Ali Agha is included in all four white-ball squads, while players like Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq have been omitted despite their previous performances. New faces such as Mohammad Hasnain, who excelled in the Champions One-Day Cup, have been rewarded with spots in the squads. The series against Australia will commence on November 4, marking Pakistan’s first ODI action since last year’s World Cup in India. This tour begins a crucial phase leading up to the Champions Trophy in February, which Pakistan is set to host, along with a busy schedule that includes a series against South Africa and a tri-series featuring New Zealand and South Africa. The squads for the series are as follows: Australia tour (Nov 4-18) ODI SQUAD: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (Wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi. T20I SQUAD: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan. Zimbabwe tour (Nov 24 – Dec 5) ODI SQUAD: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (Wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir. T20I SQUAD: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (Wicketkeeper), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan.
The announcement of the Pakistan national cricket team’s squads for forthcoming tours is of significant interest given the players’ performances and strategic changes following various omissions in previous matches. The inclusion of star players such as Babar Azam, who is anticipated to lead the team, and young bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, highlights PCB’s focus on bolstering team strength ahead of critical competitive fixtures. Moreover, the status of players concerning central contracts also plays a vital role in squad composition, influencing selections based on both recent performance and administrative decisions. The Pakistan cricket community views these tours as essential for preparing the team for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which the nation will host, marking a pivotal event in the cricket calendar.
In summary, the Pakistan Cricket Board has strategically included several key players in the ODI and T20I squads for the forthcoming series against Australia while omitting some notable names from the Zimbabwe tour. The announcement regarding the team captaincy adds another layer of anticipation leading up to the matches. With an eye on the Champions Trophy early next year, these tours will serve as crucial preparation opportunities as Pakistan aims to reinstate its presence in the international cricketing arena.
Original Source: www.espncricinfo.com
