‌Rizwan to lead Pakistan as Shaheen, Babar, and Naseem return for Australia and Zimbabwe series

Pakistan will be playing their first ODI since the World Cup in 2023 in India against Australia starting November 4. With Babar Azam relinquishing his leadership duties, Mohammad Rizwan is all set to lead the Men in Green in the white ball format. Like Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem, the wicketkeeper-batter is a part of all three squads except for the T20I unit against Zimbabwe that follows after the Aussie tour. 

Major names such as Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Imam ul Haq have been sidelined while Salman Ali Agha has earned a place in all four squads. Like Fakhar and Imam, Hasnain wasn’t a part of Pakistan’s central contract but earned a recall on the back of an impressive domestic outing as he was named the Player of the Tournament in the Champions One Day Cup.

In a piece of fresh news, wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem has been added as a traveling reserve for both the T20I series while off-spin bowling all-rounder Qasim Akram has been added for the Zimbabwe series. On the contrary, Pakistan Shaheens wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris has been left out after poor numbers and Saim Ayub is a part of the ODIs. 

The bilateral ODI series against Australia and Zimbabwe will serve as a preparatory measure for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy while the T20Is will act as a platform to strengthen their bench for next World Cup in 2026.

ODI Squad vs Australia: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi

T20I Squad vs Australia: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan

ODI Squad vs Zimbabwe: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir

T20I Squad vs Zimbabwe: 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, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan