Pakistan Announce Big Babar Azam U-Turn For T20Is Against South Africa
There is still no place for wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan while opener Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris and fast bowler Haris Rauf are dropped from last month's Asia Cup squad.
- Babar Azam has been recalled to Pakistan's T20I squad after nearly a year out
- Pakistan face South Africa in a three-match T20I series from October 28
- Mohammad Rizwan was omitted from the T20I squad but included in the ODI squad
Babar Azam was Thursday recalled to Pakistan's Twenty20 international squad for two home series, nearly a year after the batsman was axed. Pakistan play a three-match series against South Africa starting in Rawalpindi on October 28 and will also feature in next month's T20I tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Azam last played for Pakistan in T20s against South Africa in December 2024, after which he was dropped because of his poor strike rate.
There is still no place for wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan while opener Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris and fast bowler Haris Rauf are dropped from last month's Asia Cup squad.
Pakistan finished runners-up at the Asia Cup but lost all three matches against arch-rivals India.
Pacer Naseem Shah, batter Abdul Samad and wicketkeeper Usman Khan are called into the 15-man squad, which will be captained by Salman Agha.
Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Usman Khan are back in the T20I squad as Pakistan announced squads for the ODI and T20I series against South Africa.#PAKvSA | #Cricket | #Pakistan | #ShaheenAfridi | #SalmanAliAgha | #Lahore pic.twitter.com/AN0Jbpk4bF
— Khel Shel (@khelshel) October 23, 2025
After the T20s against South Africa, Pakistan will host them in a three-match ODI series on November 4-8.Â
Rizwan, replaced as ODI skipper by Shaheen Shah Afridi this week, is in the one-day squad.
T20I squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, Usman TariqÂ
ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha
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Pakistan Cricket Team
Babar Azam