Experienced players Babar Azam and Haris Rauf have been included in Pakistan’s 16-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. The series, consisting of three matches, is scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from May 30 to June 4.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the team, with the return of Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Sufyan Moqim to the squad after missing the away ODI series against Bangladesh in March. Additionally, players like Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sahibzada Farhan, and Shamyl Hussain have retained their spots from the Bangladesh series.
The squad also includes three new players, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, and Rohail Nazir, who are yet to make their ODI debut for Pakistan. Notably, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Rohail Nazir have been named as the wicketkeeper-batters in the absence of Usman Khan, who was unavailable due to illness.
Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will not be part of the squad due to injuries, continuing their rehabilitation programs under the PCB medical panel’s supervision. The team will gather in Islamabad for training starting Friday evening under the guidance of the coaching staff.
Australia’s men’s team is set to arrive in Islamabad on May 23 and will also undergo training sessions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with further details to be announced soon.
