Shaheen Afridi Makes Comeback in Pakistan T20 Squad for Australia Series
In a significant development for Pakistani cricket, the national selectors have announced the inclusion of fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in the T20 squad for the upcoming home series against Australia. The announcement was made on Friday, marking Afridi's return to international cricket after recovering from a knee injury.
Unchanged Squad with Key Returns
The squad selection shows remarkable consistency, with no changes from the team that played against Sri Lanka earlier this month. The only exceptions are the return of Shaheen Afridi and the comeback of star batsman Babar Azam. Babar Azam returns to the national side after his participation in Australia's Big Bash League, where he had a largely underwhelming performance.
Shaheen Afridi's injury occurred during the Big Bash League in Australia while he was fielding. The fast bowler subsequently returned to Pakistan for specialized treatment at the high-performance centre in Lahore, where he underwent rehabilitation to regain full fitness.
Australia's Historic Visit
Australia is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on January 28 for what will be only their second T20 series on Pakistani soil. The teams previously played a solitary T20 International match in April 2022, making this series particularly significant for bilateral cricket relations between the two nations.
All matches of the series will be played at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the following schedule:
- 1st T20I - January 29
- 2nd T20I - January 31
- 3rd T20I - February 1
World Cup Selection Uncertainty
Amidst the squad announcement, Pakistani selectors have yet to reveal their final World Cup squad. This delay comes amid growing speculation about a potential pullout by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Reports suggest the board might support the Bangladesh Cricket Board's stance of not sending their team to India for the tournament due to cited security concerns.
Complete Pakistan Squad
The full Pakistan T20 squad for the Australia series includes:
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
- Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Naseem Shah
- Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper)
- Saim Ayub
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Shadab Khan
- Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
- Usman Tariq
The return of Shaheen Afridi adds significant firepower to Pakistan's bowling attack, while Babar Azam's presence strengthens the batting lineup as Pakistan prepares to face a formidable Australian side in what promises to be an exciting T20 series.
