By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD : Former captain Babar Azam returned to Pakistan’s T20 international squad on Thursday as selectors named teams for upcoming white-ball series against South Africa and Sri Lanka, as well as a tri-series also involving Zimbabwe.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against South Africa, set for Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 28 to November 1. The same squad will feature in the T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the same venues from November 17 to 29.
Babar, Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah have made comebacks to the T20I side after missing previous events, while Usman Tariq is the only uncapped player included, according to a PCB press release. A 16-member squad was also named for the ODI series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan and South Africa, currently contesting the second Test in Rawalpindi, will play a three-match ODI series at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium from November 4 to 8. That will be followed by another three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 11 to 15.
Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf and Haseebullah return to the ODI squad. Pakistan had omitted Babar and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20 squad for the Asia Cup and a warm-up tri-series, with all-rounder Salman Ali Agha leading the side.
Head coach Mike Hesson said at the time that Babar had been asked to improve in certain areas in terms of his strike rate and taking on spin. The 15-member T20I squad is: 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.
The 16-member ODI squad is: 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.
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