Babar Azam has made his long-awaited return as Pakistan announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa.
The star batter, who missed the previous series due to rest and workload management, will lead the side in both ODIs and T20Is. His comeback is expected to boost Pakistan’s batting strength ahead of a busy cricketing schedule.
Chief Selector Wahab Riaz said the selection aims to balance experience with youth. Several in-form domestic players have also been included, while a few seniors have been rested to manage fitness.
Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan have retained their spots, while youngsters like Saim Ayub and Usama Mir continue to be part of the squad. The selectors hinted that performance in this series could influence Pakistan’s future plans for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan will play the limited-overs matches at home, with the first game scheduled next week. Training sessions have already begun under the supervision of head coach Gary Kirsten.
