PCB announces 16-member Pakistan squad for T20I series against Australia

Lahore (Web Desk): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named a 16-player squad for the upcoming T20I series against Australia, which will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

The three-match series is scheduled for 29 and 31 January, with the final clash on 1 February, and all games are set to begin at 4:00 pm (Pakistani time).

Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will return to the national T20I side after missing Pakistan’s recent tour of Sri Lanka. Shadab Khan, who is continuing his comeback, will join a spin attack featuring Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Usman Tariq, making the bowling lineup particularly strong.

The team, along with coaching and support staff, will convene in Lahore on Saturday, 24 January, and begin preparations the next day. Australia is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, 28 January, marking their second T20I series in the country since a single match at the same venue in April 2022.

The squad includes Salman Ali Agha as captain, alongside Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja 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), and Usman Tariq.

The three T20Is will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, with the first on Thursday, 29 January, the second on Saturday, 31 January, and the series concluding on Sunday, 1 February.