The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed its 15-member squads on Sunday for upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe, where Pakistan will compete in three ODIs and three T20Is against each team.
The Australia tour is set to take place from November 4 to November 18, with the Zimbabwe matches scheduled in Bulawayo from November 24 to December 5.
Key players Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who sat out the final two Tests against England, will return for Australia but take a rest break during the Zimbabwe series.
Additionally, Mohammad Rizwan will play in the ODIs in both Australia and Zimbabwe but is set to skip the T20Is in Zimbabwe, as part of a rotation strategy designed to allow emerging players exposure while managing the workload of senior players, a plan aligned with Pakistan’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy.
The ODI squad welcomes fresh faces like Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub, with Jahandad Khan and Salman Ali Agha making their T20I debuts.
Kamran Ghulam, Omair Bin Yousuf, and Sufyan Moqim join the national side in limited-overs cricket for the first time. Kamran previously filled in as a concussion substitute for Haris Sohail against New Zealand in an ODI earlier this year, while Omair and Sufyan debuted in T20I cricket against Hong Kong in the Asian Games.
Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, recently recognized as the top performer in the Champions One-Day Cup in Faisalabad, where he claimed 17 wickets, returns to the ODI team after his last appearance against New Zealand in early 2023.
Several players, including Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, have been chosen for both ODI and T20I squads. Players exclusively on the ODI roster include Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Faisal Akram, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, and Saim Ayub, who will be swapped out for Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan in the T20I format.
Seven members from the ODI squad are scheduled to leave for Melbourne on October 28, with the remainder departing a day later on October 29. Gary Kirsten, the team’s white-ball coach, will join them in Melbourne on October 28.
Pakistan’s selection showcases a strong domestic contingent for Zimbabwe, with players like Ahmed Daniyal, Haseebullah, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Tayyab Tahir, and Salman Ali Agha covering both ODI and T20I roles.
Some players are designated solely for the ODI leg, including Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Faisal Akram, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, and Shahnawaz Dahani. For T20I duties, Arafat Minhas, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Khan will join the squad.
Haseebullah, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Salman Ali Agha will participate in both tours, remaining with the team from the start in Australia through the final match in Zimbabwe.
Australia Tour Squads:
- ODI: 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, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
- T20I: 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, Usman Khan.
Zimbabwe Tour Squads:
- ODI: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir.
- T20I: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), 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.
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