Pakistan’s Babar Azam has been included in the national Twenty20 international squad for two upcoming home series, marking his return almost a year after being dropped from the team. The squad is set to face South Africa in a three-match series commencing on October 28 in Rawalpindi, followed by participation in a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe next month.
Azam’s last appearance in Pakistan’s T20 lineup was against South Africa in December 2024, which led to his exclusion due to a low strike rate. Notably, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has not been included in the squad, while opener Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, and fast bowler Haris Rauf have been omitted from the Asia Cup squad following Pakistan’s runner-up finish where they were defeated by India in all three matches.
The 15-man squad, to be led by Salman Agha, sees the inclusion of pacer Naseem Shah, batsman Abdul Samad, and wicketkeeper Usman Khan. Following the T20 series against South Africa, Pakistan will engage in a three-match ODI series with the same opponents from November 4 to 8. Notably, Rizwan, who was recently replaced as ODI captain by Shaheen Shah Afridi, is part of the one-day squad.
The T20I squad includes players like Salman Agha, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq. On the other hand, the ODI squad comprises Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, and Salman Agha.