Pakistan has announced their white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, with notable developments including the return of ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to the T20I squad and the continued exclusion of Babar Azam from the T20I set-up. The series features three T20Is in Florida (USA) followed by three ODIs in Trinidad.
Key Highlights
- Shaheen Afridi Returns: The left-arm speedster, who missed the T20I series against Bangladesh, bolsters the bowling attack for the West Indies T20Is.
- No Babar Azam in T20Is: Former captain Babar Azam remains out of favor in the shortest format, although he is named for the ODI leg only.
- Salman Ali Agha to Lead in T20Is: The middle-order batter continues as T20I captain.
- Mohammad Rizwan to Captain ODIs: Rizwan takes over leadership duties in the 50-over format, with Babar included as a player.
- Senior Pacers Return: Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali also make their comeback to the T20I squad, adding experience and variety to the bowling lineup.
Pakistan’s T20I Squad vs West Indies
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Salman Ali Agha (C) | Middle Order, Capt. |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Fast Bowler |
| Haris Rauf | Fast Bowler |
| Hasan Ali | Fast Bowler |
| Abrar Ahmed | Spinner |
| Faheem Ashraf | All-rounder |
| Fakhar Zaman | Batsman |
| Hasan Nawaz | Batsman |
| Hussain Talat | All-rounder |
| Khushdil Shah | Batsman/All-rounder |
| Mohammad Haris (WK) | Keeper-Batsman |
| Mohammad Nawaz | All-rounder |
| Sahibzada Farhan (WK) | Keeper-Batsman |
| Saim Ayub | Opener |
| Sufyan Moqim | Spinner |
- Notable omissions: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (for T20Is), and Salman Mirza despite strong recent performances.
- Young players like Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, and Sahibzada Farhan have retained spots.
ODIs: Squad Highlights
- Rizwan leads a senior-laden squad, with Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Faheem Ashraf all included.
| Captain | Notable Players | New Addition |
|---|---|---|
| Rizwan | Babar, Shaheen, | Hasan Nawaz (uncapped) |
| Naseem, Fakhar |
Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | July 31 | Central Broward Park, Lauderhill, USA |
| 2nd T20I | Aug 2 | Central Broward Park, Lauderhill, USA |
| 3rd T20I | Aug 3 | Central Broward Park, Lauderhill, USA |
| 1st ODI | Aug 8 | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago |
| 2nd ODI | Aug 10 | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago |
| 3rd ODI | Aug 12 | Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago |
Summary
Pakistan’s T20I squad for the West Indies sees a mix of youth and experience, with key bowling reinforcements in Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Babar Azam’s absence from the T20I side—despite his ODI inclusion—marks a significant shift as Pakistan builds a new T20 core under Salman Ali Agha. The ODI series will see a return to a full-strength XI under Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy.
Pakistan fans can look forward to a competitive series as these squads take the field in both USA and the Caribbean.
