Star batter Babar Azam has been recalled to Pakistan’s 16-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against world champions Australia, selectors announced on Friday. The series, starting next week, marks a crucial step in Pakistan’s preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Azam missed the away series in Bangladesh in March due to a fitness issue but made a strong comeback by scoring 588 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this month. His return bolsters a batting lineup that will be without experienced openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, both ruled out due to injuries. Senior wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has also been dropped from the squad.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to captain the side, with Salman Ali Agha named as vice-captain. The squad also sees the return of Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan, who were absent from the Bangladesh tour. Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim earns a recall after finishing as the highest wicket-taker in PSL 2026 with 22 scalps.
New faces in the ODI setup include fast bowler Ahmed Daniyal, spinning all-rounder Arafat Minhas, and wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir. These selections reflect the selectors’ focus on building depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The Australian team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on May 23. The three ODIs will be played in Rawalpindi (May 30) and Lahore (June 2 and 4). This series offers both teams an opportunity to fine-tune their combinations for the global event.
Pakistan’s Test team recently returned home after suffering a shock 2-0 defeat in Bangladesh, adding urgency to the ODI squad’s performance. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hopes the return of key players will stabilize the team’s form.
The full ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori, Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir, Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim.
Source: ARY News