Pakistan Recall Big Guns, Test New Talent for Australia ODIs

News Desk 

Rawalpindi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia, with Shaheen Shah Afridi named captain for the three-match series.

The squad sees the return of several key players, including Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan and Sufyan Muqim to the national setup.

Young players Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas and Rohail Nazir have also been included in the squad, while Sahibzada Farhan and Shamil Hussain earned places in the touring side.

The PCB said wicketkeeper-batsmen Mohammad Ghazi Ghauri and Rohail Nazir have been selected for the series.

Meanwhile, batter Usman Khan was not considered for selection due to illness, while Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will continue their rehabilitation programmes as they recover from injuries.

The three-match ODI series between Pakistan national cricket team and Australia national cricket team will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from May 30 to June 4.

PCB Set to Remove Shan Masood as Test Captain

The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly decided to remove Shan Masood as captain of the national Test team, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.

According to sources, the PCB is preparing to appoint a new captain ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies cricket team, scheduled to begin on July 25.

Sources said the board will soon begin consultations over the selection of the next Test skipper as part of preparations for the series.

Insiders further revealed that if Shan Masood does not step down voluntarily, the PCB may formally announce his removal from the role.

The development comes amid growing discussions over the future direction of Pakistan’s Test side and the board’s plans for leadership changes ahead of the new international cycle.