Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi Make Pakistan T20I Comeback Ahead of World Cup

In a significant development ahead of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan have recalled their star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi for the upcoming home series against Australia. This three-match T20I series will serve as Pakistan's final international preparation before the global showpiece event in India and Sri Lanka.

The Return of Pakistan's Premier Duo

Babar Azam, Pakistan's former captain and batting mainstay, along with pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, had been absent from the recent T20I assignment against Sri Lanka. Their return signals Pakistan's intent to field their strongest possible combination heading into the World Cup.

Both players participated in the Big Bash League during their break from international cricket. However, their maiden BBL stint proved challenging, with neither player finding their best form. Shaheen's campaign was further disrupted by an injury that forced him to leave the tournament early.

Rizwan and Rauf Face World Cup Uncertainty

While Babar and Shaheen have been welcomed back, the same cannot be said for Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf. Despite Rauf enjoying a successful BBL season, neither player has been included in the 16-member squad for the Australia series.

With Pakistan being one of the few teams to have officially announced their World Cup squad, the omission of Rizwan and Rauf from this series casts serious doubt on their participation in the 15-member tournament squad.

Squad Composition and Key Selections

The squad will be led by Salman Agha, who continues his captaincy tenure. Shadab Khan, who recently made his return to the Pakistan setup, retains his place in the side, adding crucial all-round depth and experience.

Wicketkeeping Options

Khawaja Nafay, who made a strong impression on his debut earlier this month, has been retained and could be in line to become Pakistan's first-choice wicketkeeper. The squad also includes Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan as additional wicketkeeping options.

Bowling Arsenal

The pace department features Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Mohammad Salman Mirza. Abrar Ahmed provides the mystery spin option, while Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan offer variety in the spin-bowling department.

Series Schedule and Venue

All three T20 internationals will be played at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore:

• 1st T20I: January 29, 2026
• 2nd T20I: January 31, 2026
• 3rd T20I: February 1, 2026

Full Squad

Salman Ali Agha (c), 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.

Looking Ahead

This series against Australia represents a crucial opportunity for Pakistan to fine-tune their combinations and build momentum before the T20 World Cup. The return of Babar and Shaheen adds significant firepower, but questions remain about the balance of the squad with Rizwan and Rauf's exclusion.

How Babar performs after his challenging BBL campaign and whether Shaheen has fully recovered from his injury will be closely watched as Pakistan aim to arrive at the World Cup in peak form.