Pakistan Squad Archives

PCB shortlists five players for Bangladesh T20I series: reports

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shortlisted five players for the upcoming home T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin next month.

According to the reports, the players under consideration are Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Ali, Ali Raza, Hussain Talat, and Faheem Ashraf.

Sahibzada Farhan is in red-hot form in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, amassing 236 runs in five matches, including one century. He is also the leading run-scorer in T20 cricket this year, accumulating 841 runs in 12 matches at a staggering average of 84.10.

The right-hander has achieved the feat of becoming the first Pakistani player to score four T20 centuries in a single calendar year, a feat previously achieved only by Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill.

Sahibzada has represented Pakistan in 9 T20Is, scoring 86 runs at a strike rate of 95.55. The 29-year-old’s last international appearance came against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2024.

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Hasan Ali, the leading wicket-taker of PSL 10, is also under consideration for the national squad, following his impressive performances in the ongoing tournament.

The right-arm pacer is currently leading the bowling charts with 13 wickets in six matches. Hasan Ali last played for Pakistan in a T20I in 2024 against Ireland.

Peshawar Zalmi’s all-rounder Hussain Talat is also in line for a comeback into the national team after his impressive performance with the bat in PSL 10. The left-handed batter had notable outings, scoring 193 runs in six matches. Hussain Talat last represented Pakistan in 2021, against South Africa.

Following his solid performances with bat and ball, Quetta Gladiators all-rounder Faheem Ashraf is being considered for selection. He has scored 68 runs and taken six wickets in the ongoing PSL season.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Peshawar Zalmi’s emerging pacer, Ali Raza, has attracted attention with his impressive bowling, claiming eight wickets in six matches during the PSL 10. The 17-year-old fast bowler has not yet made his debut, having previously played for Pakistan Under-19 in the 2024 World Cup.

For the unversed, Bangladesh will now play a five-match T20I series against Pakistan. Initially, Bangladesh was scheduled to tour Pakistan for three one-day internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in May, according to the Future Tour Programme (FTP).

Both cricket boards decided to replace the 50-over series with T20 internationals due to the Asia Cup in September 2025 and the T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka in February next year.

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Pakistan squad heads home after New Zealand tour

After a dismal white-ball tour, the national cricket team squad departed from New Zealand to Pakistan on Sunday.

The Pakistan team is set to arrive home via Dubai in two batches. The first group of players is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad tomorrow afternoon.

The second group will reach Lahore during the night between 6 and 7 April.

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan team had a forgettable white-ball tour of New Zealand.

Green Shirts lost the T20I series 4-1 and suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series.

The Pakistan team lost the third ODI by 43 runs, thanks to a disciplined all-round performance from New Zealand at Bay Oval on Saturday.

The game was shortened to 42 overs per side following a weather delay and damp pitch conditions.

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While chasing a target of 265, the Men in Green were bowled out for 221 in 40 overs. Ben Sears was once again the tormentor-in-chief, picking up his second five-wicket haul of the series.

Following the match, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan urged fans and his team to move on from the forgettable white-ball tour.

Speaking at the post-match presentation after Pakistan’s defeat in the final ODI at Mount Maunganui, Rizwan called for a shift in mindset, urging his teammates and fans to focus on the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10.

“After the Champions Trophy and this series, we’ll leave the past behind,” he said. “PSL is a big tournament for us, and hopefully, we’ll give the people something to cheer about.”

Prior to a disastrous tour of New Zealand, Pakistan were knocked out from the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 last month.

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Champions Trophy: Pakistan squad reaches Islamabad for Bangladesh clash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan-led team reached here on Monday for their last group game against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash, scheduled to be played on Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The squad arrived from Dubai after their defeat in a one-side encounter against arch-rivals on 23 February.

The Pakistan team will practice at the Islamabad club tomorrow evening for their game against Bangladesh.

For the unversed, Bangladesh and Pakistan have been eliminated from the multi-nation tournament following their defeats to India and New Zealand, respectively.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Pakistan suffered a crushing six-wicket defeat on Sunday against the arch-rivals India.

While batting first, Pakistan managed a modest 241 before getting bowled out in the final over. In reply, India cruised to victory with 45 balls to spare, thanks to a masterclass from Virat Kohli, who notched up a brilliant century.

Earlier, Bangladesh succumbed to defeat against New Zealand. The Black Caps chased down the modest 237-run total in 46.1 overs with five wickets in hand.

The match between Bangladesh and Pakistan will be played on 27 February at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

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Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Key England player ruled out of Champions Trophy, replacement named

Pakistan squad carries out training session for Champions Trophy 2025

KARACHI: The Pakistan cricket team hit the ground running with an intense training session here on Sunday as they gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to begin on February 19.

The training session took place at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Center’s Oval Ground, where the players participated in an optional three-hour practice under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.

Focused on sharpening their batting, bowling, and fitness, the players went through a series of drills designed to fine-tune their skills ahead of the mega event.

The session kicked off with warm-up exercises before Pakistan squad dived into specialized drills aimed at enhancing their match readiness.

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Throughout the session, the coaching staff closely monitored the players’ performances, ensuring they stayed in top form.

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19.

They will then travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Mohammad Yousuf picks THESE teams as favorites for Champions Trophy 2025

Rizwan-led Pakistan squad reaches Australia for white-ball series

The second contingent of Pakistan white-ball squad, under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, reached Melbourne, Australia for the three-match ODI and T20I series.

The second group of the Pakistan squad that reached Australia on Wednesday evening included white-ball captain Rizwan, his deputy Salman Ali Agha, alongside Abdullah Shafique, Aamir Jamal, Saim Ayub, Kamran Ghulam, Haseebullah and Arafat Minhas.

Remember, seven players from the Pakistan team Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Irfan Khan and Faisal Akram reached Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Australia tour will run from 4-18 November, followed by a white-ball series in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, which will be played from 24 November to 5 December.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads for the tours to Australia and Zimbabwe yesterday.

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The cricket board also appointed wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan as the captain for Pakistan’s white-ball team ahead of the upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.

Key players like Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were rested from the last two Tests against England, retained their place in the white-ball squads for the Australia matches but will be rested for the Zimbabwe tour.

Similarly, Mohammad Rizwan will be available for the Australia tour and Zimbabwe ODIs, but will be rested from the Zimbabwe T20Is.

All-rounder Salman Ali Agha, who has been appointed as the vice-captain, will lead the team in Rizwan’s absence during the T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Pakistan Squad for Australia Tour

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

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

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Mohammad Amir reacts to Fakhar Zaman’s exclusion from Pakistan squad

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has commented on the exclusion of opening batter Fakhar Zaman from the white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of Australia and Zimbabwe.

Earlier today, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the central contracts for the 2024-25 international season, along with the squads for the tours to Australia and Zimbabwe.

However, Fakhar Zaman’s name was missing from the central contract list and squads for the upcoming tours.

The decision to drop Fakhar did not sit well with Mohammad Amir. He expressed his shock through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that Fakhar is the only impact player in Pakistan’s white-ball team.

“I am surprised that Fakhar Zaman is not in the team. He is the only impact player we have in white ball cricket,” Amir posted.

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The cricket board also appointed wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan as the captain for Pakistan’s white-ball team ahead of the upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.

The Australia tour will run from 4-18 November, while the matches in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, will be played from 24 November to 5 December.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the vice-captain and will lead the team in Rizwan’s absence during the T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Pakistan Squad for 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

Pakistan Squad for 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

READ: Mohammad Rizwan appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain

Aamir Jamal returns as Pakistan unveil squad for first England Test

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday, announced a 15-member squad including fast bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal for the first Test against England, set to take place in Multan from 7-11 October.

Jamal was initially named in Pakistan’s squad for the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh but was released ahead of the commencement of the series.

The all-rounder sustained a back injury during his stint with Warwickshire in the County Championship on June 8 and has been out of action since then.

Meanwhile, right-arm pacer Khurram Shehzad, who was part of the Bangladesh Tests, is recovering from an injury and thus was replaced by left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has 47 wickets in 15 Tests.

The other notable absentees are Kamran Ghulam, who was a part of the squad for Bangladesh Tests but did not make it to the Playing XI, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali.

“Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, remain firmly in the selectors’ plans,” said PCB in a statement.

“However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket,” the statement added.

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Following the squad announcement and based on the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to allow them some rest ahead of the series.

“With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England,” said Gillespie.

“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters,” he added.

The squad will assemble in Multan on Monday, 30 September, with the training camp commencing on 1 October.

Pakistan Squad for first England Test:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Saud Shakeel slams umpiring after Dolphins’ exit from Champions Cup

Key batter dropped as Pakistan unveil squad for Bangladesh Tests

LAHORE: Pakistan dropped opening batter Imam-ul-Haq from their 17-member squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting from 21 August.

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) men’s national selection committee announced the squad on Wednesday for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures.

The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August, while the second Test will be held from 30 August-3 September in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the home team’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 August and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.

The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of 17 August and is expected to train in the same afternoon.

Shan Masood will continue to lead the Test team, while left-handed middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has been appointed as the new vice-captain of Pakistan’s red-ball team.

Saud takes over from Shaheen Shah Afridi as part of the selectors’ strategic decision that is aimed at managing Pakistan’s lead fast bowler’s workload management during a busy season.

It’s worth noting that the Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is and, at least, 17 ODIs during the period from 21 August 2024 to 5 April 2025.

Pakistan’s 17-member Test squad for Bangladesh series features 13 players, who were involved in the last series against Australia in December/January 2023-24.

Uncapped Mohammad Huraira and Kamran Ghulam as well as Test player Mohammad Ali have been rewarded for their consistent performances in the domestic circuit as well as for Pakistan Shaheens.

Meanwhile, pace sensation Naseem Shah is returning to the red-ball side after a 13-month hiatus.

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Kamran Ghulam aggregated 1,025 runs in 11 first-class matches in the 2023-24 season and then scored 148 runs in three innings against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin last month, including 100 not out in the first match.

He was part of the squad for the home series against New Zealand in December/January 2022-23 but didn’t feature in the drawn two-match series.

Fast bowler Mohammad Ali has been recalled after last featuring in the opening two Tests against England in 2022.

He took 24 wickets in six first-class matches in the 2022-23 season, followed by 47 wickets in 14 first-class matches in the 2023-24 season.

In the two four-day matches against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin, Ali took nine wickets, including six for 63 in the second innings of the second match.

Meanwhile, Huraira stroked a sparkling double-century against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin last month. He also had a stellar last couple of first-class seasons.

In the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Huraira was the only batter to break the 1,000-run barrier, aggregating 1,024 runs in 11 matches for Northern.

In the 2023-24 first-class season, the 22-year-old right-hander scored 961 runs in 14 matches for the Faisalabad Region and Higher Education Commission (HEC).

He was part of the squad for the tour to Sri Lanka in July 2023 but didn’t feature in the series, which Pakistan won by 2-0.

Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali (injured), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr (injured), Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were the players who failed to retain their places in the Test side.

Imam-ul-Haq managed 57 runs in two Tests against Sri Lanka and then scored 94 runs in the Perth and Melbourne Tests, Faheem took one wicket in the Perth Test, Sajid claimed three wickets in the Sydney Test, while Nawaz and Noman didn’t play in any of the Tests.

Pakistan squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

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Pakistan announce squad for T20 World Cup 2024

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to commence on June 1.

The much-awaited Pakistan squad was announced in a unique way as cricket fans, in a video released by the PCB, revealed the players’ names selected for the mega event.

The side was confirmed on Friday afternoon (UK time) following a two-hour selection committee meeting, which was attended by Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Bilal Afzal, Gary Kirsten, Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz.

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Of the 15 players, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saim Ayub and Usman Khan have been picked for their maiden T20 World Cup, while Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim last appeared in the 2016 and 2021 tournaments, respectively. The other eight players participated in the 2022 event in Australia.

“This is an extremely talented and balanced side that has a mixture of youth and experience. These players have been playing together for some time and look well prepared and settled for next month’s event,” stated PCB.

“Haris Rauf is fully fit and bowling well in the nets. It would have been nice if he had gotten an outing at Headingley, but we remain confident that he will continue to maintain an upward trajectory in the upcoming matches, as he will have an important role to play along with other strike bowlers in the T20 World Cup,” the statement added.

Pakistan, who lifted the title in the 2009 edition will start their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against the United States of America (USA) on June 6 before taking on arch-rivals India on June 9.

Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

READ: Fakhar Zaman gives update on Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Selection committee explains Azam Khan’s inclusion in Pakistan squad

LAHORE: Bilal Afzal, a member of Pakistan men’s selection committee, explained wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan’s inclusion in Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming five-match home T20I series against New Zealand.

Afzal, who also served as provincial minister under Mohsin Naqvi-led caretaker Punjab setup, revealed that Azam’s selection was a unanimous decision, considering his standout performances in the Caribbean.

“Selecting Azam Khan was a unanimous decision by the selectors. His performances (stats) on the pitches of the Caribbean have been a standout.

“We thought to give him a proper chance so he could prepare himself for the upcoming World Cup. It will build his confidence and we want him to win this World Cup for us,” he added.

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Despite boasting an exceptional record in franchise cricket, Azam Khan had a forgetful start to his international career, managing only 29 runs in eight matches with the highest score of 10.

Pakistan squad for T20I series against New Zealand

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan, Usama Mir

Non-travelling reserve: Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha.

New Zealand are slated to reach Pakistan on April 14, two days after Pakistan’s squad announcement, for the crucial series, leading to the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup.

Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will host the first three T20Is between Pakistan and New Zealand on 18, 20 and 21 April.

The two sides will then travel to Lahore to lock horns in the remaining two T20Is on 25 and 27 April, respectively.

READ: Mohammad Amir opens up after Pakistan comeback