ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the squads for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) and T20I series against Australia.
Australia are playing their first cricket series in Pakistan after 24 years. The two sides have so far played two Test matches and drawn both of them, with the third and final Test match of the series to be played in Lahore on March 21.
Australia and Pakistan are scheduled to lock horns in three ODIs one T20I after the third Test match.
The ODI series kicks off on March 29 whereas the two sides will play the last match of the series, a T20I fixture, in Rawalpindi next month before the visitors leave.
“The four white-ball matches have significant context as the 50-over games count toward the 2023 World Cup qualification and the 20-over will be a repeat of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 semifinal,” said PCB chief selector Muhammad Wasim in an official statement.
The uncapped Asif Afridi and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris have been included in the squads. The two players have been selected as a result of their “impressive performances” in the domestic cricket circuit in Pakistan, the statement added.
Asif took eight wickets in five matches for Multan Sultans during the HBL Pakistan Super League tournament, while 20-year-old Haris scored 166 runs in five matches at an impressive strike-rate of 186.5 for Peshawar Zalmi.
In the ongoing Pakistan Cup, Haris has already scored 219 runs in seven matches at an average of just under 44, while Asif has picked eight wickets in seven matches with an economy rate of 4.39.
All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who had to pull out of the Test series due to a foot injury, has been drafted in the ODI and T20I teams. However, his inclusion in the playing XI will depend on his fitness.
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel have been excluded from the T20I squad for the series.
The players for the ODI and T20I squads will assemble in Lahore on March 22 and undergo a three-day room isolation following which they will be allowed to join the national side.
Australia are ranked number three in ODIs, while they are the reigning T20 world champions. Pakistan rank sixth and third in the 50- and 20-over formats, respectively.
ODI squad
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-Ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir
T20I squad
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir
