Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi return as Pakistan announce 16-man squad for Australia series

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan unveil 16-member squad for T20I series against Australia

Lahore, 23 January 2026:

The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The matches will take place on 29, 31 January, 1 February and will begin at 4pm PKT.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have returned to the T20I squad after missing the three-match away series against Sri Lanka in early January.

Shadab Khan will continue to build on his comeback in the previous T20I series and will form part of a strong spin-bowling contingent along with Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan squad and player support personnel are expected to convene in Lahore on Saturday, 24 January and will begin their preparations for the series the following day.

Australia are set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, 28 February and will play just their second series in the format on Pakistan soil after a solitary T20I in April 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium.

16-member squad:

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

Player support personnel:

Naveed Akram Cheema (team manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Hanif Malik (batting coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (performance analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmed (media manager), Lt. Col. (r) Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Dr Raheel Karim (psychiatrist) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)

Series schedule: (All matches at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore)

1st T20I – Thursday, 29 January – 4pm PKT
2nd T20I – Saturday, 31 January – 4pm PKT
3rd T20I – Sunday, 1 February – 4pm PKT

 

[jamie smith fan]

Pakistan unveil 16-member squad for T20I series against Australia

Lahore, 23 January 2026:

The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The matches will take place on 29, 31 January, 1 February and will begin at 4pm PKT.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have returned to the T20I squad after missing the three-match away series against Sri Lanka in early January.

Shadab Khan will continue to build on his comeback in the previous T20I series and will form part of a strong spin-bowling contingent along with Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan squad and player support personnel are expected to convene in Lahore on Saturday, 24 January and will begin their preparations for the series the following day.

Australia are set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, 28 February and will play just their second series in the format on Pakistan soil after a solitary T20I in April 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium.

16-member squad:

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

Player support personnel:

Naveed Akram Cheema (team manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Hanif Malik (batting coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (performance analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmed (media manager), Lt. Col. (r) Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Dr Raheel Karim (psychiatrist) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)

Series schedule: (All matches at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore)

1st T20I – Thursday, 29 January – 4pm PKT
2nd T20I – Saturday, 31 January – 4pm PKT
3rd T20I – Sunday, 1 February – 4pm PKT

Is this the squad for wc also??

 

[jamie smith fan]

Abdul samad dropped lol.
Hassan nawaz not anywhere also.

 

[jamie smith fan]

On what grounds have shaheen and babar been selected??

 

[Fast bowler6929]

Lol zimbabar, Usman hack khan faheem parchi ashraf are useless selections.

These players will be cause of Pakistan's awful performance in world cup.

 

[jamie smith fan]

Lol zimbabar, Usman hack khan faheem parchi ashraf are useless selections.

These players will be cause of Pakistan's awful performance in world cup.

Add shadab and washed up fakhar to the list also

 

[BouncerGuy]

Abdul samad dropped lol.
Hassan nawaz not anywhere also.

Dropped for no reason... Hasan Nawaz was already out of picture so no questions there

Main thing is No haris rauf as well.. Good one... Babar's form is pathetic so not sure what is he gonna bring to the team.

Shaheen trundler is back also.. let's see if he can catch up

 

[adi_62941]

4 passengers,

Babar
Shadab
Shaheen
Nasim

 

[adi_62941]

The only good inclusion is Khawaja Nafay. He is a good and solid prospect for Pakistan in White ball format.

 

[jamie smith fan]

4 passengers,

Babar
Shadab
Shaheen
Nasim

Fakhar and usman are passengers also.

 

[jamie smith fan]

Is this the squad for wc also???

 

[Kianig89]

16 man squad, has to be trimmed to 15 for WC

 

[Fast bowler6929]

Usman hack khan's stats
Matches-29
Innings -25
Avg-18
Strike rate -117

His world cup stats
Matches -4
Runs- 20
AVg-6
Usman hack khan was one of the main reason along with rizwan and zimbabar Pakistan did badly in the world cup 2024.

Why they keep selecting this garbage player.
What does he have on selectors?

 

[jamie smith fan]

16 man squad, has to be trimmed to 15 for WC

Babar or fakhar should be dropped imo

 

[Usman Chadda]

I guess it's a toss up between Babar and Fakhar, but the more important question is who will start between the two?

No other way Babar comes into the team, besides playing at Fakhar's spot.

Do Hesson and Salman have the guts to drop a modern day great like Babar Azam and risk getting criticism thrown at them mid-way through the tournament?

 

[Kianig89]

No more Haris Spank me Rauf. As far as Nafay and Usman are concerned I hope we're not doomed

 

[jamie smith fan]

Usman hack khan's stats
Matches-29
Innings -25
Avg-18
Strike rate -117

His world cup stats
Matches -4
Runs- 20
AVg-6
Usman hack khan was one of the main reason along with rizwan and zimbabar Pakistan did badly in the world cup 2024.

Why they keep selecting this garbage player.
What does he have on selectors?

He has some strong connections ia

 

[jamie smith fan]

No more Haris Spank me Rauf. As far as Nafay and Usman are concerned I hope we're not doomed

Nafay still looks a better bat than fakhar babar and usman big teeth khan

 

[Kianig89]

So will Agha bat at 3 , or Babar starts at bench will be interesting because there way too many players to accommodate in top 6

 

[jamie smith fan]

So will Agha bat at 3 , or Babar starts at bench will be interesting because there way too many players to accommodate in top 6

Saim
Farhan
Agha
Fakhar
Nafay
Shadab
Nawaz
Faheem
Abrar
Mirza
Naseem

My first choice 11 from this trash

 

[Fast bowler6929]

I won't be surprised if any of Namibia, nederlands and USA beat Pakistan.

With this pathetic squad every team has a chance to beat Pakistan.
They have selected the worst possible team they could select.

 

[jamie smith fan]

I won't be surprised if any of Namibia, nederlands and USA beat Pakistan.

With this pathetic squad every team has a chance to beat Pakistan.
They have selected the worst possible team they could select.

Even italy can beat this team lmao

 

[Fast bowler6929]

Lol I forgot about captain salman agha who is not even a t20 player.
He should be nowhere near t20 side let alone leading national team.
Bunch of jokers who are running PCB.

 

[Fast bowler6929]

Even italy can beat this team lmao

Lol I won't be surprised. Italy came close on beating ireland and there is not much difference between Pakistan and ireland. LOL.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Is this the squad for wc also???

nope... not final for WC yet

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Lol I won't be surprised. Italy came close on beating ireland and there is not much difference between Pakistan and ireland. LOL.

You lot ever happy which team has spinners like usman tariq abrar nawaz with shadab and saim ayub chipping in even if pakistan don't play any fast bowlers spinners can bowl all 20 overs in sri lanka conditions which looks a great team in those conditions.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Too many passengers in the team

Shadab
babar
Usman
salman hero
Saim
fakhar

LOL

whole team is made up of passengers.

 

[jamie smith fan]

Too many passengers in the team

Shadab
babar
Usman
salman hero
Saim
fakhar

LOL

whole team is made up of passengers.

Saim isnt a passenger
He is a match winner player

 

[jamie smith fan]

You lot ever happy which team has spinners like usman tariq abrar nawaz with shadab and saim ayub chipping in even if pakistan don't play any fast bowlers spinners can bowl all 20 overs in sri lanka conditions which looks a great team in those conditions.

Batting is too weak imo

 

[jamie smith fan]

It will be a case study how guys like abbas irfan niazi and hassan nawaz were isolated from the system and replaced by parchi players

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Usman hack khan's stats
Matches-29
Innings -25
Avg-18
Strike rate -117

His world cup stats
Matches -4
Runs- 20
AVg-6
Usman hack khan was one of the main reason along with rizwan and zimbabar Pakistan did badly in the world cup 2024.

Why they keep selecting this garbage player.
What does he have on selectors?

I think it's patently obvious that Usman Khan has some very uncompromising photos of the selectors

 

[Nikhil_cric]

nope... not final for WC yet

It much pretty much is. They'll drop a fast bowler from this squad and that's about it.

Any other selection after this series will be extremely random

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don't know how anyone can look at this squad and have any hopes of this team going past the second round. Worst part is that there is not a whole lot better you can make this team even if you drop the handful of guys who don't deserve to make the squad in any way whatsoever.

 

[jamie smith fan]

It much pretty much is. They'll drop a fast bowler from this squad and that's about it.

Any other selection after this series will be extremely random

Expect the unexpected from this brainrot management

 

[Fast bowler6929]

You lot ever happy which team has spinners like usman tariq abrar nawaz with shadab and saim ayub chipping in even if pakistan don't play any fast bowlers spinners can bowl all 20 overs in sri lanka conditions which looks a great team in those conditions.

Lol cricket is not played by spinners only. Not a single good batsman in the squad.
They won't reach to the semi finals with this pathetic garbage squad

 

[jamie smith fan]

I don't know how anyone can look at this squad and have any hopes of this team going past the second round.

Group stage exit looks inevitable

 

[Fast bowler6929]

I think it's patently obvious that Usman Khan has some very uncompromising photos of the selectors

Lol this must be it.
He has failed in every series every tournament yet he is selected again and again to show his big teeth and ugly hoicks.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Saim isnt a passenger
He is a match winner player

check his record since last year... ordinary

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Lol this must be it.
He has failed in every series every tournament yet he is selected again and again to show his big teeth and ugly hoicks.

Club cricketer playing international cricket

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Group stage exit looks inevitable

I have a strong feeling that this time Boobzy the King will bury the demons of 2024 and play a match-winning 32 off 34 against USA. He will get his redemption arc

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Expect the unexpected from this brainrot management

I doubt it would be Hesson's decision, then.

Realistically, he can probably bring back Mo. Haris for one of the keepers. But apart from that, this was on expected lines.

To accomodate Hassan, you would have to drop one of Agha, Babar or Fakhar. But they have backed experience.

And only 7 batsmen(including wicketkeepers) can be picked in the squad

 

[Rana]

From now on, Australia and Australians will remember Babar Azam as “the Camp Guy”

@salman24 @Kianig89 @gazza619 @BouncerGuy @Ball Blazer @Raja Ishtiaq @Bewal Express @Muhammad Saad

 

[Aami]

No Haris Rauf.
And, Abdul Samad? Yes he didnt do well with all the chances he got ... I mean, how can you mess up a chance to carry drinks?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I doubt it would be Hesson's decision, then.

Realistically, he can probably bring back Mo. Haris for one of the keepers. But apart from that, this was on expected lines.

To accomodate Hassan, you would have to drop one of Agha, Babar or Fakhar. But they have backed experience.

And only 7 batsmen(including wicketkeepers) can be picked in the squad

Mo Haris was pretty disappointing but I fail to see how he wasn't better than Usman Khan in just about every single way. Even if he has an average of 15 chances are he will get those runs off 5-6 balls rather than 15-17 like Usman Khan would

 

[jamie smith fan]

No Haris Rauf.
And, Abdul Samad? Yes he didnt do well with all the chances he got ... I mean, how can you mess up a chance to carry drinks?

Bro get selected but never got a game.
Huge injustice towards him

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pak fans after seeing no Rauf in the squad:

 

[Rana]

Pak fans after seeing no Rauf in the squad:

I would take him in the squad over Babar Azam

 

[Fast bowler6929]

Mo Haris was pretty disappointing but I fail to see how he wasn't better than Usman Khan in just about every single way. Even if he has an average of 15 chances are he will get those runs off 5-6 balls rather than 15-17 like Usman Khan would

Yeah mohammad haris did not do much with the chances he got but he is certainly much better than Usman hack.

 

[Rana]

What number should the camp enthusiast bat for Pakistan?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I just hope they don't drop Usman Tariq from the World Cup squad to accommodate an extra seamer. All their matches are in Sri Lanka so there is nothing wrong with going with four spinners, especially when two of them are all-rounders who have decent ability with the bat. It would make more sense to drop another seamer; be it Mirza, Naseem or Wasim.

 

[Usman Chadda]

I just hope they don't drop Usman Tariq from the World Cup squad to accommodate an extra seamer. All their matches are in Sri Lanka so there is nothing wrong with going with four spinners, especially when two of them are all-rounders who have decent ability with the bat. It would make more sense to drop another seamer; be it Mirza, Naseem or Wasim.

Why would they retain Wasim jnr and drop Usman Tariq?

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Lol cricket is not played by spinners only. Not a single good batsman in the squad.
They won't reach to the semi finals with this pathetic garbage squad

Well genius conditions in sri lanka demand spinners and it will be no brainer to bowl all 20 over of spin and spin will win pakistan a world cup in those conditions sena teams can't play spin to save their lives and batting pakistan just need to have some batsmen who cal get them to fighting totals with saim farhan agha who is brilliant player of spin are key.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I would take him in the squad over Babar Azam

Rauf will probably bat at a higher strike-rate and hit more sixes but his bowling is a pretty major liability. And he doesn't seem to listen to Hesson so maybe he needs to be thrown out to reflect on his choices

 

[BouncerGuy]

THREAD IS ABOUT SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA SERIES... TAKE YOUR BABAR OBSESSION TO SOME OTHER RELEVANT THREAD NOW

 

[Rana]

THREAD IS ABOUT SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA SERIES... TAKE YOUR BABAR OBSESSION TO SOME OTHER RELEVANT THREAD NOW

It’s a tarnished squad with an undeserving player

This is going to be a long 4-6 weeks for you guys.

 

[GOSH11]

It’s a tarnished squad with an undeserving player

This is going to be a long 4-6 weeks for you guys.

What would be your 11 from this squad?

Obviously, not what you would have wanted but working with this group...

 

[Rana]

What would be your 11 from this squad?

Obviously, not what you would have wanted but working with this group...

First and foremost, I want that him to be 1000 miles away from the squad+team management

 

[pakistani pride]

I guess it's a toss up between Babar and Fakhar, but the more important question is who will start between the two?

No other way Babar comes into the team, besides playing at Fakhar's spot.

Do Hesson and Salman have the guts to drop a modern day great like Babar Azam and risk getting criticism thrown at them mid-way through the tournament?

Modern day great? Can you please explain how Babar is a modern day great, what has he achieved or won for Pak to be called a modern day great?

 

[Usman Chadda]

Modern day great? Can you please explain how Babar is a modern day great, what has he achieved or won for Pak to be called a modern day great?

 

[Rana]

Modern day camp

 

[Aami]

Bro get selected but never got a game.
Huge injustice towards him

You're absolutely right ... and Im pretty sure he can BE THAT GUY, or at least try, that we've beem looking for the past 20 years who can hit big.

 

[Aami]

Saim
Farhan
Agha
Fakhar
Nafay
Shadab
Nawaz
Faheem
Abrar
Mirza
Naseem

My first choice 11 from this trash

I like your 11, but Ive never been convinced of Naseem, I'd rather have Afridi or Wasim.

 

[Kianig89]

Can we get the career SR of all the players mainly batsman selected. This random bashing needs to be stopped.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Welcome home King

 

[hur rizvi]

What number should the camp enthusiast bat for Pakistan?

No 12

 

[Hyder]

Batting is too weak imo

Which great batsman are sitting out who have not been selected, with their performance please

 

[Hyder]

I dont think there are many great players who could have made it. Seriously we lack batsman.
Babar is way out of form
Usman never looked intl standard
And thats pretty much it

Who else selectors could have included??
If based on form none of pakistani batsman performed exceptionally in any league barring 1 or 2 matches

 

[GOSH11]

First and foremost, I want that him to be 1000 miles away from the squad+team management

I appreciate that but with the above squad, what is your 11?

 

[mon858]

Saim
Farhan
Agha
Fakhar
Nafay
Shadab
Nawaz
Faheem
Abrar
Mirza
Naseem

My first choice 11 from this trash

I would consider playing Usman Tariq in place of Faheem against SENA teams. We have more chance of beating them with spin getting bunch of wickets then with 1 extra pace bowling option or 1 or 2 over extra batting option with Faheem.

 

[zahid01]

As expected only surprise is no rauf we are not going to win anything pathetic bunch of players i have been watching quite a bit of cricket past two months I noticed that pakistan players participating in various t20 leagues look far inferior to other countries

 

[Rana]

I appreciate that but with the above squad, what is your 11?

Fakhar L
Farhan R
Saim L
Usman R
Nawaz L
Nafay R
Faheem L
Shadab R
Shaheen L
- - -
10. Abrar
11.Salman Mirza


Agha doesn’t make the XI

 

[Aami]

This will be my X1

Farhan
Saim
Fakhar
Salman
Nafay (wk)
Shadab
M.Nawaz
Afridi
Wasim
Abrar
Usman Tariq

Considering its Sri Lanka ill pack em in with spinners...
Weaker batting line up due to Afridi at no 8.
No space for Babar but will keep Salman as he is the captain.

Out
Babar
Faheem
S. Mirza
Naseem
Usman

 

[Nasty Naz]

Looks like this is the WC squad minus one fast bowler (Naseem or Wasim).

The bowling will need to carry Pakistan as usual for Pakistan to have even a small chance.

 

[Hyder]

Fakhar L
Farhan R
Saim L
Usman R
Nawaz L
Nafay R
Faheem L
Shadab R
Shaheen L
- - -
10. Abrar
11.Salman Mirza


Agha doesn’t make the XI

If you are adding usman then i d say agha is better than him atleast.
Nevertheless fakhar is a failure at opening in t20i

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Fakhar L
Farhan R
Saim L
Usman R
Nawaz L
Nafay R
Faheem L
Shadab R
Shaheen L
- - -
10. Abrar
11.Salman Mirza


Agha doesn’t make the XI

Hesson won't play this combination. They'll play another batsman

 

[Hyder]

Farhan
Saim
Agha
Fakhar
Nafay
Shadab
Nawaz
Shaheen
Naseem/Waseem (would ve have liked abbas)
Abrar
Usman


Usman abrar shadab nawaz saim. Proper 12 to 16 overs of spin.

Faheem can come in if another pacer is requirred because sa pitches light fabour medium pacers (tho all of Pakistan's bowlers are med pacers)

 

[Katwalindian]

You're absolutely right ... and Im pretty sure he can BE THAT GUY, or at least try, that we've beem looking for the past 20 years who can hit big.

He can be jason Smith of pakistan

 

[Katwalindian]

I would have selected hasan nawaz, abdul samad and abbas afridi over babar azam, usman khan and faheem ashraf

 

[m.shah]

Dropped for no reason... Hasan Nawaz was already out of picture so no questions there

Main thing is No haris rauf as well.. Good one... Babar's form is pathetic so not sure what is he gonna bring to the team.

Shaheen trundler is back also.. let's see if he can catch up

Abdul Samad is of no use

 

[Aami]

He can be jason Smith of pakistan

More like Jeremy Beadle.