Pakistan squad for Australia Tour 2024 announced | Babar Azam return for Australia matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its squads for the upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe, with a mix of experienced national players and emerging domestic talents. The selected squads reflect Pakistan's strategy of blending seasoned players, such as Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, with promising new faces as part of the team’s long-term preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Here’s a detailed look at Pakistan’s squads, player lineups, and the full schedule for both tours.

Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah’s Role

After being rested for Pakistan’s recent Test matches, star players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah return to the lineup for the Australia tour, set to play a crucial role in the three-match ODI and T20I series. These players, however, will be rested during the Zimbabwe tour, a decision based on the selectors’ rotation policy and their focus on keeping these key players fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan, a regular in Pakistan’s limited-overs format, will feature in both the Australia ODIs and Zimbabwe ODIs, but will sit out the Zimbabwe T20I series. This approach underscores the PCB's emphasis on a balanced rotation policy, ensuring key players are well-prepared for future tournaments

Prominent New Selections and Debutants

The tours provide an opportunity for several domestic performers to represent Pakistan on the international stage. The selectors have strategically chosen uncapped and promising talents for both formats:

• Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub make their way into the ODI squad, where they are expected to bring fresh energy and skill, especially in the absence of star players during the Zimbabwe leg​
• In the T20I squad, Jahandad Khan and Salman Ali Agha make their debut appearances, joined by other first-time national selections who have shown excellent performances in recent domestic tournaments​

Pakistan’s ODI and T20I Squads for the Australia Tour:

ODI SQUAD: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi

T20I SQUAD: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan

Australia Tour Schedule (4-18 November)

1. 4 November – ODI, MCG, Melbourne
2. 8 November – ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
3. 10 November – ODI, Perth Stadium, Perth
4. 14 November – T20I, The Gabba, Brisbane
5. 16 November – T20I, SCG, Sydney
6. 18 November – T20I, Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Pakistan’s ODI and T20I Squads for the Zimbabwe Tour:

ODI SQUAD: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir

T20I SQUAD: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan

Zimbabwe Tour Schedule (24 November - 5 December)

1. 24 November – ODI, Bulawayo
2. 26 November – ODI, Bulawayo
3. 28 November – ODI, Bulawayo
4. 1 December – T20I, Bulawayo
5. 3 December – T20I, Bulawayo
6. 5 December – T20I, Bulawayo

Building Towards the ICC Champions Trophy: A Strategic Vision

Pakistan’s selective approach to rotating key players and rewarding domestic talent is designed to build a robust squad capable of defending their ICC Champions Trophy title. This dual-tour approach allows the PCB to explore player depth, give match exposure to promising domestic stars, and provide rest to core players in preparation for the Champions Trophy.

With Gary Kirsten joining as the white-ball coach in Melbourne, the team benefits from his strategic insights and experience, expected to refine Pakistan's approach to limited-overs cricket and help in talent development across both tours

The upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe mark a crucial period for Pakistan as they balance immediate series demands with long-term goals for the Champions Trophy. With experienced players leading the charge against Australia and emerging stars gaining experience in Zimbabwe, Pakistan's cricket strategy is set for a competitive and developmental trajectory. These tours will offer fans a glimpse into Pakistan’s future and build excitement for the country’s defense of their Champions Trophy title.