Pakistan Recall Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi as Salman Agha Leads T20I Squad vs Australia
Pakistan recall Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi as Salman Agha leads a strong T20I squad for home series vs Australia.
Pakistan have named a 16-member squad for the three-match T20I home series against Australia, with Salman Ali Agha set to lead the side at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The biggest talking point is the return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, two of Pakistan’s biggest T20 names, as the team sharpens up for major upcoming T20 events.
Babar makes his comeback despite a disappointing Big Bash League 2025-26 season with the Sydney Sixers. He scored 202 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 103.06, the lowest among all players who crossed 200 runs in that season.
The tour also saw Babar involved in an on-field argument with Steven Smith, an incident that was later resolved. However, his form dipped further as he managed only one run across his next two innings after the exchange.
Shaheen’s return comes after he recovered from a knee ligament injury that had kept him out of action. His presence adds bite to Pakistan’s pace attack, which already features Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Mohammad Salman Mirza.
Pakistan’s spin department looks settled and varied. Shadab Khan continues his comeback and will lead the spin group that includes Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and mystery spinner Usman Tariq, who could make his T20I debut in the series.
In the batting department, Pakistan have several options around Babar, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan and Khawaja Mohammad Nafay.
Australia, meanwhile, arrive in Pakistan with a slightly depleted squad. They will miss captain Pat Cummins and power-hitter Glenn Maxwell due to injuries. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis is also injured and remains doubtful for the series.
The visitors will be led by Mitchell Marsh and feature key players such as Travis Head, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis and leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
The three-match series is seen as a crucial test for both teams. Pakistan are banking on experience and star power, while Australia will look to test their bench strength in challenging subcontinent conditions.
