Pakistan has announced their T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, with several key players missing, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan, who are currently participating in Australia’s Big Bash League.
New Faces in the Squad
Uncapped keeper-batter Khawaja Nafay has received his first call-up. The 23-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper-batter has recently been a part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad and has played 32 T20 matches, scoring at an impressive strike rate of 132.81.
All-rounder Shadab Khan has made his return to the T20I setup. The selectors have announced a 15-player squad for the January series, with Salman Ali Agha remaining as captain. Notably, Salman has set a record by playing 34 T20I matches this year, the most by any Pakistani player.
Shadab’s Comeback
Shadab, 27, who last represented Pakistan in June, underwent shoulder surgery earlier this year. After a successful rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy, he is now participating in the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.
The Pakistan team is scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka in the first week of January. The T20I matches will be held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) in Dambulla on January 7, 9, and 11.
World Cup Preparations
This series will serve as an opportunity for Pakistan to finalize their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. All of Pakistan’s matches in the tournament will be contested in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Pakistan is positioned in Group B for the World Cup and will face India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA in the first round.
Pakistan T20I Squad for Sri Lanka:
- Salman Ali Agha (c)
- Abdul Samad
- Abrar Ahmad
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
- Khawaja Nafay
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Naseem Shah
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Saim Ayub
- Shadab Khan
- Usman Khan
- Usman Tariq
Series Schedule:
- First T20I: January 7, Dambulla
- Second T20I: January 9, Dambulla
- Third T20I: January 11, Dambulla