Babar, Afridi return to Pakistan T20I squad; no place for Haris Rauf

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced inclusion of batting icon Babar Azam and speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi in the T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

PCB named Shaheen Shah Afridi on Friday in their 16-man squad for next week's three-match Twenty20 international series against Australia, after the fast bowler recovered from a knee injury.

The 25-year-old suffered a niggle during the T20 Big Bash League in Australia earlier this month but was given all clear after a fitness test.

Selectors have also brought batting great Babar Azam for the matches to be played in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1.

There was no place for express pace bowler Haris Rauf despite taking 20 wickets in the Big Bash League.

The squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, starting in India and Sri Lanka from February 7, will be announced next week.

Pakistan’s T20 squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Muhammad Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, Usman Tariq, Khawaja Muhammad Nafay, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan.

The Australian team will arrive in Pakistan on January 28.

Reporter Wasim Ahmed