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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of the West Indies, setting the stage for a critical series that begins on July 31.
The selections feature two standout headlines: the highly anticipated return of pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi to the T20I setup, providing a significant boost to the bowling attack, and the continued absence of former captain Babar Azam from the shortest format. This decision signals a clear strategic shift by the selectors, who are increasingly backing a younger core of players under new leadership for T20Is. The tour will feature six high-stakes white-ball matches, comprising three T20Is in Florida followed by three One-Day Internationals in Trinidad, offering Pakistan a vital opportunity to regroup and assert dominance after their recent 2-1 T20I series defeat against Bangladesh.
Young core takes the helm under Agha Salman with no place for Babar Azam
The 15-member T20I squad for the West Indies series marks a notable recalibration of Pakistan’s strategy in the shortest format. Headlining the changes is the crucial re-inclusion of Shaheen Afridi, who had missed the recent Bangladesh series and last played a T20I during the New Zealand tour earlier this year. His return is complemented by the comebacks of fellow pace heavyweights Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali, collectively strengthening the team’s fast-bowling arsenal significantly.
In a continued move away from the Babar Azam era in T20Is, Salman Ali Agha has been entrusted with the captaincy, signaling the selectors’ commitment to a younger leadership group. The batting order sees fresh faces and depth added with rising stars Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, and Sahibzada Farhan earning spots, alongside the seasoned all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz. Interestingly, Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal, who had impressed during the Bangladesh series, have been omitted from this T20I squad, suggesting a refined selection criteria for the challenging West Indies tour.
Pakistan T20I squad for the series against West Indies:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.
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ODI continuity under Mohammed Rizwan with return of Shaheen Afridi
While the T20I squad reflects a more experimental approach, the 16-member ODI squad maintains a blend of experience and emerging talent, with Mohammad Rizwan taking the reins as captain and Salman Ali Agha stepping into the role of vice-captain.
Notably, former captain Babar Azam makes his presence felt in the 50-over format, highlighting his continued importance to the ODI setup, alongside the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abdullah Shafique. Experienced batter Fakhar Zaman also retains his place across both white-ball formats, providing a stable presence at the top. The ODI squad also includes Hasan Nawaz, who is the only uncapped player across both lists.
Pakistan ODI squad for the series against West Indies:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.
The tour’s schedule is set to be action-packed, beginning with the three T20Is at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, USA, on July 31, August 2, and August 3. Following the T20Is, the teams will head to the Caribbean for the three ODIs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago, scheduled for August 8, August 10, and August 12, promising an exciting series for cricket enthusiasts.
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