Azam, Shaheen back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour in November

Less than a month after resigning as Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Babar Azam is selected for limited overs squad to tour Australia.

Former skipper Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi were named in Pakistan’s squad for the November limited-overs series in Australia after being dropped from the last two Tests against England.

However, selectors said the duo will be rested for the limited-overs matches in the Zimbabwe tour later next month.

Later on Sunday, Mohammad Rizwan was announced as Pakistan’s new white-ball caption to replace Azam, 30, who resigned earlier this month after a second stint in the post.

Pakistan open the Australia tour with three one-day internationals in Melbourne (November 4), Adelaide (November 8) and Perth (November 10).

That will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals in Brisbane (November 14), Sydney (November 16) and Hobart (November 18).

Allrounders Aamer Jamal and Arafat Minhas, spinner Faisal Akram, wicketkeeper batsman Haseebullah and batsmen Irfan Khan and Saim Ayub have been selected for the first time in ODIs.

Likewise, allrounders Jahandad Khan and Salman Agha have been selected for the first time in T20Is.

Azam, appointed white-ball captain for the first time in 2019, stepped down after Pakistan’s disastrous first-round exit from the ODI World Cup in India last year.

However, he was re-appointed for a second time in March 2024 before the T20I World Cup in the United States and West Indies – where Pakistan exited in the first round again, adding pressure on him to resign a second time, which he ultimately did on October 2.

ODI SQUAD: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan,