Pakistan have announced their squads for a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka and a seven-match ODI tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and England. Sahibzada Farhan will lead the T20I side, while left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been retained as captain of the ODI team.
The T20I series against Sri Lanka will be played entirely at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with matches scheduled for 9, 11 and 13 October. Farhan, who recently captained Pakistan at the Asian Games, will now take charge of the national T20I side for the three-match home series.
The squad selections also bring several changes and opportunities for players looking to establish themselves in Pakistan’s white-ball set-up. Rajullah, who impressed with the bat in the third Test against England, has received his first call-up to Pakistan’s white-ball squads. His selection provides another option in the batting department as the team prepares for a busy run of limited-overs cricket.
Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig has been included in the ODI squad, while Mohammad Imran Randhawa has earned his first T20I call-up. Their inclusion reflects an effort to introduce fresh options alongside several established names.
There has also been a significant change in the T20I leadership group. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha, who had previously held the T20I captaincy, has been left out of the format’s squad altogether. Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan and spinner Usman Tariq have also missed out.
Several pacemen who were part of Pakistan’s Asian Games squad have not been selected for the upcoming home assignments. Ali Raza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Aaqib Javed and Ahmed Daniyal are among those absent from the announced squads.
Pakistan’s T20I group combines experienced campaigners with younger players. Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub provide international experience, while the inclusion of Randhawa and other emerging players gives the new leadership group an opportunity to assess additional options.
The T20I series will be followed by the ODI tri-series involving Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka. The first three matches will be staged in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league fixtures and the final.
Pakistan will begin their tri-series campaign against Sri Lanka on 18 October in Rawalpindi. They will then face England at the same venue on 20 October, followed by the Sri Lanka-England fixture on 22 October.
The competition will then move to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Pakistan will meet England again on 25 October before facing Sri Lanka on 27 October. Sri Lanka and England will play their second league match against each other on 29 October, with the final scheduled for 31 October.
Shaheen will lead an ODI squad featuring several prominent names, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. Rajullah’s inclusion means he will have an opportunity to build on his recent Test performance in the shorter format.
The ODI squad also includes two wicketkeeper options in Mohammad Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig. The bowling group features a blend of pace and spin, with Shaheen, Naseem and Haris supported by Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem.
The support staff for both assignments have also been confirmed. Naveed Akram Cheema will serve as team manager, with Mike Hesson as head coach. Shaun Tait will oversee the bowling unit, Michael Smith will work as batting coach and Mansoor Amjad will be responsible for fielding.
Mohammad Tahir has been named physiotherapist, while Grant Luden will serve as strength and conditioning coach. Nabil Ezar Pace will work as the team analyst during the Sri Lanka T20I series, with Usman Hashmi taking over the role for the ODI tri-series.
Shafqat Shabbir will serve as media manager during the Rawalpindi leg, while Syed Nazir Ahmed will take over the role in Lahore. Colonel Usman Anwari will oversee security arrangements, with Dr Wajid Ali Rafai named as team doctor and Mohammad Ehsan serving as masseur.
Pakistan T20I squad
Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Rajullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Muqeem.
Pakistan ODI squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Haris Rauf, Hassan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Rajullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Muqeem.
Sri Lanka T20I series
Pakistan will play Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on 9 October, followed by the second T20I on 11 October and the third on 13 October. All three matches will be staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
ODI tri-series schedule
The tri-series begins on 18 October, when Pakistan face Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. Pakistan then play England on 20 October, before Sri Lanka meet England on 22 October.
The tournament moves to Lahore for its final four matches. Pakistan face England on 25 October and Sri Lanka on 27 October, while Sri Lanka and England meet again on 29 October. The final will be played at Gaddafi Stadium on 31 October.
The back-to-back assignments give Pakistan an extended period of international cricket at home and provide the selectors with an opportunity to assess both established players and emerging talent. With Farhan taking charge of the T20I side and Shaheen continuing to lead the ODI team, the two series will also offer Pakistan’s new-look leadership groups an important test against Sri Lanka and England.
