Key players return as Pakistan name strong white-ball squads

A host of key players have been named as Pakistan revealed their white-ball squads for upcoming home fixtures across the next month.

Former captain Babar Azam and star bowler Naseem Shah are the big names to return to the T20I setup, while pacer Haris Rauf is among three players included in the ODI squad that will take on South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan will host South Africa for six white-ball fixtures (three T20Is and three ODIs) from October 28, before Sri Lanka visit for another trio of 50-over contests from November 11.

Rawalpindi and Lahore will then host a T20I tri-series between Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, with Salman Ali Agha to once again lead the side following his appointment to the job earlier this year.

Babar and Naseem sat out recent T20I fixtures against the West Indies and this year's Asia Cup, but return to the fold just months out from the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in early next year.

Rauf is one of three players included for an ODI return, alongside Faisal Akram and Haseebullah. The matches against South Africa will be the first for Pakistan under new ODI captain Shaheen Afridi.

Pakistan T20I squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq. Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Moqim

Pakistan ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

Schedule:

South Africa tour to Pakistan

28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

1 November – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

4 November – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

6 November – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

8 November – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan

11 November – First ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

13 November – Second ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

15 November – Third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

T20I Tri-Series (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)

17 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

19 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

29 November – Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

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