Babar Azam In, Mohammad Rizwan Axed; PCB Makes Bold Calls In ODI Squad For Australia Series

Pakistan Cricket Team. Image Credits: AFP

On Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the ODI squad to take on the touring Australia in a three-match bilateral, starting from May 30. Shaheen Afridi has regained his captaincy, while a tough call has been taken on Mohammad Rizwan.

The board has made tough calls as the Men in Green faced an embarrassing Test series whitewash in Bangladesh under the leadership of Shan Masood and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Touring Bangladesh, the Shan Masood-led Pakistan lost both Test matches, where they were found loose in all three aspects. Although they gave a scintillating fight in the final innings of the second innings, the efforts from Rizwan went in vain.

PCB makes tough calls in ODI squad

Babar Azam's inclusion is the biggest highlight of the PAK vs AUS squad. Moreover, Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali has been reinstated as the vice-captain. Mainstays who were absentees during the recently concluded Tests - Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan - are also included in the 16-member squad.

Also Read: Mohammad Rizwan vs Litton Das- Pakistan Player Labels Rizwan Frustrating

PCB has also named as many as three uncapped - Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas and Rohail Nazir - in the ODI squad to face the reigning World champions. Meanwhile, Nazir is one of the two keepers, alongside Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, who have been named ahead of Rizwan.

The Pakistan board also categorically stated that Usman Khan missed the selection due to illness. Thus, the specialist wicketkeeper-batter has not been dropped.

New-faced Pakistan to face Australia

Ahead of the big squad announcement, reports suggested Babar Azam could get the ODI captaincy after Pakistan lost the ODI series against Bangladesh earlier in March. However, the national selectors have decided to continue putting faith in the left-arm seamer.

Babar, who has not played the format since November last year, will be the key linchpin of Pakistan's batting in the absence of Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, who are rehabbing under the supervision of the PCB medical panel.

In the absence of the first-choice openers, Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat are expected to open against Australia, given their prolific form in recent months. Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan will be the key middle-order batters.

Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah will again be the go-to men for Pakistan in the fast bowling department. At the same time, Sufiyan Muqeem has been picked over Abrar Ahmed.

Pakistan's ODI squad for Australia series

Shaheen Afridi (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufiyan Muqeem.

PAK vs AUS ODIs schedule

The first ODI between Pakistan and Australia will be played on May 30 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, before the caravan moves to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the following two matches. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for June 2 and 4.