The Pakistan cricket team is gearing up for an exciting series against Australia and Zimbabwe, with the selectors revealing a 15-member squad for each leg of the tour. The national team will play three ODIs and three T20Is in Australia from November 4 to November 18, followed by matches in Zimbabwe from November 24 to December 5.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will announce Pakistan’s white-ball captain at a media conference in Lahore this Sunday. Notably, star players Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are back for the Australia tour after being rested in the last two Tests against England. These key players, along with Mohammad Rizwan, will participate in the Australia matches but will sit out the Zimbabwe tour to allow rotation and provide opportunities for new talent.
The squad for the Australia ODIs includes several uncapped players: Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub. Meanwhile, Jahandad Khan and Salman Ali Agha are set to make their debut in the T20I format during this tour.
Kamran Ghulam, Omair Bin Yousuf, and Sufyan Moqim, who have previously played limited-overs internationals, will also join the national side. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who shined in the recent Champions One-Day Cup with 17 wickets, is making a return to the ODI squad.
Apart from the star players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, the selectors have included a mix of experienced and emerging players. This strategic selection is part of Pakistan’s broader plan to strengthen the team ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy and other future tournaments.
The ODI squad traveling to Australia features Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The T20I squad includes Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan.
The first group of players will depart for Melbourne on October 28, followed by the rest on October 29. White-ball coach Gary Kirsten will join the squad in Melbourne.
Pakistan’s tour schedule in Australia includes ODIs on November 4 at the MCG, November 8 at Adelaide Oval, and November 10 at Perth Stadium. The T20I matches will be held on November 14 at The Gabba, November 16 at SCG, and November 18 at Bellerive Oval. The Zimbabwe leg of the tour will feature ODIs on November 24, 26, and 28, and T20Is on December 1, 3, and 5, all in Bulawayo.
