Salman Agha to Lead T20 Side; Shaheen Afridi Takes Charge of ODIs for the First Time
LAHORE – Pakistan’s star batter and former captain, Babar Azam, has been recalled to the national T20I squad as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday unveiled the squads for the upcoming white-ball home series against South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.
Babar, who last featured in a T20I match against South Africa in Centurion in December 2024, had been out of action in the format for several months. He missed the recent series against Bangladesh and the West Indies, as well as the Asia Cup 2025, but now makes a highly anticipated return to the shortest format.
The PCB has named a 15-member T20I squad for the series against South Africa and the following tri-nation event, while a 16-member ODI squad has been selected for the matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will continue as T20I captain, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been entrusted with the ODI captaincy for the first time in his career. The T20I squad also includes Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah, who make their return to the format, and Usman Tariq, who has earned his maiden national call-up.
In the ODI lineup, Haris Rauf, Faisal Akram, and Haseebullah have been recalled, further strengthening Pakistan’s bench depth ahead of a packed home season.
The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa will kick off in Rawalpindi on October 28, with the remaining two matches scheduled in Lahore on October 31 and November 1. The teams will then move to Faisalabad for a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8.
Following that, Pakistan will host Sri Lanka for another three-match ODI series in Rawalpindi from November 11 to 15, before heading into the T20I Tri-Series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan T20I Squad (15-member)
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.
Pakistan ODI Squad (16-member)
Shaheen 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.
Series Schedule
South Africa T20Is
- Oct 28 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
- Oct 31 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 2nd T20I, Lahore
- Nov 1 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd T20I, Lahore
South Africa ODIs
- Nov 4 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st ODI, Faisalabad
- Nov 6 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 2nd ODI, Faisalabad
- Nov 8 – Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd ODI, Faisalabad
Sri Lanka ODIs
- Nov 11 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
- Nov 13 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
- Nov 15 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
T20I Tri-Series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)
- Nov 17 – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi
- Nov 19 – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi
- Nov 22 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore
- Nov 23 – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Lahore
- Nov 25 – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Lahore
- Nov 27 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore
- Nov 29 – Final, Lahore
