Released: Pakistan T20 Squad For PAK vs SL Series

The final list Pakistan T20 Squad for the upcoming series of T20Is between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is out. Interestingly, there have been changes in the selection. It may be recalled that there is the T20 World Cup that will be played in February-March, in countries such as India and Sri Lanka.

Shadab Khan Makes a Comeback

Shadab Khan, a crucial all-rounder for Pakistan, is back in the T20I squad after a recovery stint. Before this series, Shadab was last observed playing in their 3-0 victory over Bangladesh’s T20 international series in June 2023. It was followed by a series of surgical interventions to address a recurring shoulder problem. He made his comeback to international mainstream cricket.

Now, this series, he made a comeback to international mainstream cricket, returning to action during the present Big Bash League (BBL) series taking place in Australia in December.

Uncapped Batter Khawaja Nafay Gets First Call-Up

One of the biggest positives in the squad selection is the selection of Khawaja Nafay, an uncapped batter who is also an occasional wicketkeeper, who is just 23 years old.

Nafay has impressed in domestic T20 leagues, as evidenced by the fact that he recently played in the Abu Dhabi T10 and has been selected in the Pakistan Shaheens squad as well. The 23-year-old has aggregated 688 runs in 32 T20 matches with an impressing strike rate of 132.81.

Squad Exclusions: Key Players from the BBL

Although the series involving Sri Lanka is of great importance to the Pakistani cricket team, the Pakistani squad has chosen to exclude some of the top players who are currently taking part in the Big Bash League.

The players taking part in the league and are now left out of the squad include Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali. The move is intended to give a chance for testing of new talent before the World Cup.

Players of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Players

On the other hand, a few players, who are currently featuring in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), have been included in the Pakistan side for the series against Sri Lanka in the T20Is.

The names of the included players, who are currently playing in the BPL, include Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Khan, who will leave for Sri Lanka to take part in the series.

Preparations for the T20 World Cup: A Critical Opportunty

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I series is considered to be one of the important opportunities for the Pakistan team to finalize their lineup before the T20 World Cup.

Seeing the number of positions still available, this series is expected to give opportunities to the newcomers in the Pakistan cricket team, including Abdul Samad and Khawaja Nafay, to make their entry in the World Cup lineup. Abdul Samad, in particular, is regarded as a cricketer who has been banging the door for the last one year.

The Fast-Bowling Competition

There is another interesting situation in the team, and that is the selection contest in fast bowling, particularly in the absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.

Fast bowler Salman Mirza and Naseem Shah would lead Pakistan’s attack in Sri Lanka, and this would provide them with a golden opportunity to prove their mettle and get their spot in Pakistan’s World Cup team. There is stiff competition in Pakistan’s fast bowling, with players like Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf in contention as well.