ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recalled former captains Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi to its Twenty20 squad for the upcoming three-match home series against Australia cricket team, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The series, scheduled to be played in Lahore, will serve as Pakistan’s final bilateral assignment ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month.
Azam missed Pakistan’s recent T20 series against Sri Lanka after opting to play in Australia’s Big Bash League. The 31-year-old has now ended his domestic campaign early to rejoin the national squad for the Australia fixtures.
Afridi returns after recovering from a knee injury sustained during his Big Bash League appearance last month. Team management indicated the fast bowler has been cleared for selection following medical assessments.
Pakistan will host Australia for three matches in Lahore, with the series concluding on February 1. The team is expected to use the fixtures to finalize combinations ahead of the World Cup.
Pakistan will open its Group A campaign of the T20 World Cup against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.
The squad for the Australia T20 series includes Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
