Babar Azam to make T20 comeback; Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha: ‘I am very excited’ | Cricket News
Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha is set to lead a revamped national T20I squad against South Africa in a three-match series starting Tuesday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The team features returning stars Babar Azam and Naseem Shah, along with potential debutants Usman Tariq and Usman Khan, as Pakistan continues its preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026.The Pakistani squad represents a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, with off-spinner Usman Tariq and wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan in line for their first T20I appearances.“I think we have a very interesting and exciting side, with a few comebacks and a few new faces as well. I am very excited to lead this team, and we really hope to have a great series,” said Salman Ali Agha as quoted from Geo News.Pakistan’s recent T20I performances have been mixed. They dominated Bangladesh with a 3-0 home series victory in May but lost 2-1 to Bangladesh in an away series in July. The team bounced back with a 2-1 victory against West Indies in August and won a tri-series involving Afghanistan and UAE.However, the team faced setbacks in their encounters with India, losing three matches and the Asia Cup title.“We had a great series against Bangladesh at home, and I am hopeful for good results in the upcoming series as well. We just want to execute our plans for a longer period. As I always say, we have a great team — a team that can beat any side. Obviously, South Africa are a very good side; they have a few misses, but still possess a lot of talent,” Salman added.The Pakistan T20I squad includes Salman Ali Agha as captain, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq.The reserve players for the series are Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Sufiyan Moqim.
