PCB announces squads for upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe

Babar, Naseem, Shaheen return for Australia but will rest for Zimbabwe; Naqvi to announce white-ball captain today.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced squads for their upcoming Australia and Zimbabwe tours, with key players returning and emerging domestic stars making the cut.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will unveil the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball teams at a media conference in Lahore on Sunday at 3:30 pm.

Pakistan’s white-ball cricket squads will play three ODIs and three T20Is each on their November-December tours.

The team will face Australia from November 4 to 18, then head to Zimbabwe for matches from November 24 to December 5.

These tours are seen as pivotal preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, with selectors balancing experienced players and new talent in their strategy.

Key Returns for Australia, Rotations for Zimbabwe

Reinstated players Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi—who were rested during the last leg of Pakistan’s Test series against England—are set to feature in the Australia tour but will be rested for the Zimbabwe series.

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan will play both ODIs in Australia and Zimbabwe but will sit out the T20Is in Zimbabwe.

The selection committee’s rotation policy underscores a dual objective: ensuring readiness for the Champions Trophy while offering promising domestic players exposure at the international level.

Several players without previous ODI caps, including Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub, have been included in the ODI squad. Meanwhile, Jahandad Khan and Salman Ali Agha will make their T20I debuts.

Kamran Ghulam, Omair Bin Yousuf, and Sufyan Moqim, who have previously represented Pakistan in limited-overs matches, will join the national side again.

Kamran notably served as a concussion substitute for Haris Sohail against New Zealand in early 2023, and Omair and Sufyan debuted at the Asian Games men’s cricket competition.

Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who topped the charts with 17 wickets in the Champions One-Day Cup in Faisalabad, also rejoins the ODI squad, having last appeared in an ODI against New Zealand in January 2023.

Alongside top players like Babar, Naseem, Rizwan, Salman, and Shaheen, additional selections for both formats include Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, and Muhammad Irfan Khan. For the ODI squad alone, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Faisal Akram, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, and Saim Ayub will be available, while Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan join for the T20Is.

Squad Departures and Schedule

Players selected for the Australia tour will depart on October 28, with the remaining ODI squad joining them a day later. Pakistan’s white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten, will meet the team in Melbourne.

Australia Tour Schedule:

• 4 November: ODI, MCG, Melbourne
• 8 November: ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
• 10 November: ODI, Perth Stadium, Perth
• 14 November: T20I, The Gabba, Brisbane
• 16 November: T20I, SCG, Sydney
• 18 November: T20I, Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Zimbabwe Tour Schedule:

• 24 November: ODI, Bulawayo
• 26 November: ODI, Bulawayo
• 28 November: ODI, Bulawayo
• 1 December: T20I, Bulawayo
• 3 December: T20I, Bulawayo
• 5 December: T20I, Bulawayo