LAHORE: Pakistan’s national selectors have recalled all-rounder Shadab Khan to the T20 International set-up while leaving out senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, as a 15-member squad was announced on Sunday for next month’s three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, the squad will be led by Salman Ali Agha, who has been one of Pakistan’s most active players in the shortest format this year.
Salman featured in a record 34 T20Is in the current calendar year, the most appearances by any Pakistan player in a single year, reflecting the selectors’ growing confidence in his leadership and consistency.
Moreover, Shadab Khan’s return indicates a relevant development ahead of a busy international season. The 27-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder last represented Pakistan in a T20I in June before undergoing shoulder surgery. Shadab has returned to competitive cricket and is currently featuring in Australia’s Big Bash League. The performances and match fitness during the tournament appear to have strengthened his case for a recall.
In such a scenario, the absence of former captain Babar Azam and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is among the most notable decisions. However, both players are also participating in the Big Bash League, and their omission is understood to be part of a planned rotation policy.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup approaching, the selection committee appears focused on managing workloads while testing new combinations and widening the pool of players ahead of the global tournament.
So far, another key inclusion is uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay, who has earned his maiden senior call-up. The 23-year-old has been part of the Pakistan Shaheens programme and has featured in 32 T20 matches, scoring at a strike rate of 132.81.
Pakistan are scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka in the first week of January. All three T20Is will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla on January 7, 9 and 11.
The series forms an important part of Pakistan’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Pakistan are set to play all their World Cup matches in Colombo.
Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq.
