Pakistan recalls Babar Azam, Naseem Shah for T20 squad

Pakistan recalled former captain Babar Azam and fast bowler Naseem Shah to its T20 squad on Thursday as the board named teams for a busy home schedule that begins later this month with a three-match Twenty20 series against South Africa and extends through a November tri-nation T20 tournament and two separate three-match ODI series. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the squads ahead of the T20s in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 28 to November 1, three ODIs against South Africa in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8, three ODIs against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi from November 11 to 15, and a T20 tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.

Selectors brought Babar back into the shortest format for the first time since December 2024, citing a desire for experience and stability in the batting order as Pakistan prepares for next year's T20 World Cup. Naseem Shah, who has not played T20 internationals since last November, was also recalled. Salman Ali Agha will captain the T20 side while Shaheen Shah Afridi was named ODI captain for the forthcoming white-ball fixtures.

The T20 squad balances returning internationals and domestic performers. In addition to Babar...