The series between Pakistan and South Africa, consisting of three T20Is and as many ODIs, is set to begin on October 28th. Pakistan’s T20I and ODI squads have been announced. Babar Azam has returned to the squad, playing in this format after nearly 10 months. Salman Agha will be the team’s captain. Meanwhile, star fast bowler Aman Ali has been dropped. This bowler had a very poor performance in the Asia Cup final.
Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam received some good news during the second Test against South Africa. He has been included in Pakistan’s squad for the three-match T20I series against the team, starting on October 28th.
A wave of change is currently sweeping through Pakistan cricket, as the selectors have announced their T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming domestic season. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named captain of the ODI team, while Salman Agha will once again lead the T20I team.
Babar last played a T20I match against South Africa in December 2024. He has been out of the team since then. However, there is speculation that his absence was due to Pakistan’s poor performance in the Asia Cup. The 29-year-old will be seen playing in the T20Is against South Africa and the tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Pakistan’s batting has been poor in the Asia Cup 2025. Only opener Sahibzada Farhan scored a half-century, but his strike rate was only 116.04. Meanwhile, star batsman Fakhar Zaman, considered a dangerous batsman, has been placed on the reserve team.
Babar isn’t the only one making a comeback in this squad; Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah are also making their comeback after missing recent tours, while 24-year-old spinner Usman Tariq has earned his first call-up to the national team. Meanwhile, Haris Rauf has suffered a major setback.
However, Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf has been dropped from the team. Haris’s poor performance in the Asia Cup, which cost Team India the title, also contributed to the Asia Cup. Furthermore, Mohammad Haris, who consistently scored low scores, has also been dropped from the team. Usman Khan has been included as his wicketkeeper-batsman.
Left-arm spinner Sufyan Muqim has been included in the reserve list alongside Fakhar and Rauf. Mohammad Rizwan has not yet been included in the T20I squad.
This is Pakistan’s squad
T20I team: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayyub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq.
Reserve players: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufyan Muqim
ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasibullah, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayyub, Salman Ali Agha.
