PAK vs AUS T20I Squads; Babar Azam returns for Pakistan; No Cummins, Maxwell for Australia

Pakistan have named a 16-member squad under captain Salman Ali Agha for the high-stakes three-match T20I series against Australia at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

The blockbuster return of former captains Babar

Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi headlines the announcement, injecting star power ahead of the crucial series.

Babar Azam rejoins the fold despite a disappointing Big Bash League stint with Sydney Sixers, where he aggregated 202 runs across 11 innings at a strike rate of just 103.06, the lowest for any batter surpassing 200 runs in a BBL season. A notable on-field spat with Steven Smith during a group-stage clash lingered in headlines, though the duo later reconciled; Babar mustered only one run in the subsequent two innings. Meanwhile, pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi overcomes a knee ligament injury and has been named in the team.

Shadab Khan sustains his comeback trajectory post-injury, anchoring a potent spin unit with Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and mystery spinner Usman Tariq, who earns a maiden call-up. The pace battery blends firepower and variety through Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza.

For the Aussies, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell have missed out due to injuries. The recent injury for Nathan Ellis is also a big blow and it is to be seen if he is available for the series.

Pakistan and Australia Squads

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matt Short, Marcus Stonis, Adam Zampa