PCB Announces Pakistan Squads for Australia and Zimbabwe Tours, Highlights Rotation and Emerging Talent

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squads for the upcoming white-ball tours of Australia and Zimbabwe, implementing a rotation policy to manage player workloads and provide opportunities to emerging talents. Pakistan will play three ODIs and three T20Is each in Australia and Zimbabwe, with the Australia tour running from 4 to 18 November and the Zimbabwe series scheduled for 24 November to 5 December.

Key players Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi return for the Australia tour but will be rested for Zimbabwe. Similarly, Mohammad Rizwan will play in the ODIs in both tours, while Salman Ali Agha will take on T20I captaincy duties in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested.

Several uncapped players have been included in the squads, showcasing Pakistan’s domestic talent. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, fresh off his success in the Champions One-Day Cup, returns to the ODI squad, while emerging players such as Jahandad Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, and Sufyan Moqim will make their national side debuts in the T20Is.

PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi noted the strategy behind the selections: “Our rotation policy allows us to prepare the team for the ICC Champions Trophy and future challenges while maintaining player fitness and encouraging domestic talent.”

Pakistan Squads for Australia and Zimbabwe Tours:

• ODI Squad for Australia:
  Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
• T20I Squad for Australia:
  Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
• ODI Squad for Zimbabwe:
  Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
• T20I Squad for Zimbabwe:
  Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan

Pakistan’s White-Ball Match Schedule:

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

The Pakistan team departs for Australia on 28 October, with white-ball coach Gary Kirsten joining the squad in Melbourne.