Pakistan have recalled former captain Babar Azam to their T20I side for the first time this year, offering him a lifeline to revive his career in the shortest format of the game. Babar has not been picked in a T20I squad since Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in December 2024, when newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson signaled a switch. After Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Asia Cup where their batting frailties were exposed, the selectors seem to have turned back to Babar, who himself passes through a slender patch across all formats.
However, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who was recently relieved of the ODI captaincy, once again failed to secure a place in the T20I squad. Babar’s return to the T20I fold comes four months ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan have announced their T20I squad for the upcoming series against South Africa and tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to be played at home.
They also revealed their ODI squad led by new captain Shaheen Afridi for the home series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. Rizwan was retained as wicketkeeper for both the ODI series.
Pakistan will first play three T20Is and as many ODIs against South Africa before hosting Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series. The T20I tri-series, from which Afghanistan pulled out, has been played since November 17.
There was speculation that Shadab Khan could replace Salman Ali Agha as the T20I captain, but the selectors decided to back Agha despite his poor results in the Asia Cup. Shadab was not actually recalled to the T20I squad.
Notably, Pakistan left out opener Fakhar Zaman and fast bowler Haris Rauf, naming both of them in the reserves along with spinner Suiyan Moqi.
Babar was dropped as T20I captain following Pakistan’s disastrous performance in last year’s T20 World Cup. He averaged 33.54, scoring 738 runs in 24 matches, but his strike rate of 133.21 was cause for concern.
Hesson stressed the importance of having players capable of batting at a higher pace, but Pakistan’s batting unit struggled in the Asia Cup, prompting the selectors to bring back their senior campaigner.
PAKISTAN T20I SQUAD
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 khanqkeeper)
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Moqim
PAKISTAN ODI UNION
Shahen Shah Afridi (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (Goalkeeper), Mohammad Na Wasim Shaim Jnr, Sa Ajub, Salman Ali Agha.
UPCOMING PAKISTAN T20I ODI SERIES SCHEDULE
Travel to South Africa to Pakistan
28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 1 – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 4 – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
November 6 – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
November 8 – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Sri Lanka to Pakistan tour
11 November – First ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
13 November – Second ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
15 November – Third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
T20I Tri-Series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)
November 17 – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
November 19 – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
November 22 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 23 – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 25 – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 27 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 29 – Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
October 23, 2025
