Pakistan have recalled Shaheen Shah Afridi and kept faith with Babar Azam for next week’s three-match T20I series against Australia in Lahore, the last outing before the squad for February’s T20 World Cup is locked in.
Chief selector Wahab Riaz summed up the thinking in a brief release. “Shaheen is bowling at full tilt again and our medical staff are satisfied. Babar remains one of the best players in the world – a lean month in the BBL does not change that.”
Afridi, sidelined for the latter half of the Big Bash by a jarred knee, joins a pace attack that also features Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza and the all-round skills of Faheem Ashraf. Haris Rauf, despite 20 wickets for Melbourne Stars, is once more overlooked. Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood said on PCB Digital, “Haris is in the conversation, he’s just not in the XI right now. Conditions and balance went against him this time.”
There was never much doubt over keeping Khawaja Nafay after his tidy debut tour of Sri Lanka earlier this month. The 23-year-old, who can bat anywhere from three to six, stays on as first-choice wicketkeeper, with Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan offering back-up gloves.
The spin group is familiar: leg-spinners Shadab Khan and Usman Tariq, mystery-spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-armer Mohammad Nawaz. With games in Lahore expected to start under lights, the foursome offer the variety captain Salman Ali Agha wants. “Having an offie, a leggie and a left-armer gives me options at every stage,” Agha told reporters in Karachi. “That’s important against Australia because they play pace better than most.”
Babar’s spot has attracted more comment than anyone else’s. His 202 runs at a strike-rate just above 100 for Sydney Sixers was hard work, and Australian pundits did not hold back. Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket called the form “well below BBL standards”. Even so, inside the Pakistan set-up there was never a serious move to drop the former captain. Batting coach Mohammad Yousuf put it plainly: “Class is permanent. We’ve backed him and we expect him to respond.”
The squad in full
Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.
Pakistan face Australia on 30 January, 1 February and 3 February at Gaddafi Stadium. Both teams then fly straight to India and Sri Lanka for the World Cup, where Pakistan open the tournament against the Netherlands on 7 February in Colombo.
Afridi, speaking briefly on PCB’s social channels, said he was “grateful to be back in green” and that the knee “feels strong now”. For several players, notably Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza, the Australia matches are a final audition. For others, specifically Babar, they are a chance to remind everyone exactly why their names have never left the team sheet.
