Pakistan have brought Babar Azam straight back into their 16-man one-day squad for the home series against Australia, starting in Lahore on 30 May. The selectors, keen to freshen things up without ripping the side apart, have also handed maiden call-ups to wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir, left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas and quick bowler Ahmed Daniyal.
Shaheen Shah Afridi continues as captain, with Salman Ali Agha promoted to vice-captain. Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah, both fit again, return after varying spells out; Shadab’s last ODI was at the 2023 World Cup, while Naseem featured in the 3–0 win over Sri Lanka at home last November.
The headline omission is Mohammad Rizwan, who slips out of the one-day set-up for now. It is a significant call, given his seniority, but the panel felt a reshuffle behind the stumps was overdue. “Consistency is important,” a PCB official said, “yet we also have to plan for the next cycle.” The door, they stressed, is not closed.
Pakistan squad v Australia (ODIs)
Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim.
On paper it is a balanced list: eight players with World Cup experience, plus three newcomers who have piled on domestic numbers over the past twelve months. Minhas offers a second spin option alongside Shadab, while Daniyal’s extra pace should complement Afridi and Haris Rauf under lights in Karachi and Rawalpindi.
The three-match series is Pakistan’s first white-ball action since February and doubles as early preparation for the 2027 Champions Trophy. Expect minor tweaks as the coaches sift through combinations, but the central theme is clear enough: experienced heads up top, lively talent waiting in the wings.
