In a bold move, Pakistan Cricket Board unveils Salman Ali Agha as captain for the three T20Is against Australia from January 29 to February 1, setting the stage for intense bilateral action in Lahore. This appointment signals a new era as the team fine-tunes for future global challenges.
Former skipper Babar Azam and strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi reclaim their spots after sitting out the Sri Lanka T20s. Babar’s return comes post a modest BBL campaign (202 runs in 11 matches), prompting him to exit his team early for international focus.
Expect fireworks from the batting unit featuring explosive openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, complemented by Sahibzada Farhan’s consistency. Mohammad Rizwan’s omission from the squad stirs controversy, with selectors prioritizing form and balance.
The spin arsenal, powered by Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and debutant Usman Tariq, looks balanced. Pace attack thrives under Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr., ready to exploit conditions.
Big Bash standout Haris Rauf, with 20 scalps in 11 games, finds himself on the sidelines, possibly conserved for the T20 World Cup opener versus Netherlands on February 7—all group matches in Colombo.
Complete squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khwaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.