Pakistan coach Hesson brings back experienced players for upcoming matches

LAHORE: Pakistan's white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has recalled all the tried and tested players for the T20 international series against Sri Lanka and the triangular ODI series also involving England at home this month.

Opener Fakhar Zaman, fast bowler Naseem Shah and all-rounder Shadab Khan have been included in both the T20 and ODI squads announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday.

While Shaheen Shah Afridi continues as captain of the ODI squad that also includes senior batters Babar Azam and Salman Ali Agha, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and fast bowler Haris Rauf.

Fakhar, Shadab, Babar, Shaheen, Haris, Faheem, Naseem and Salman are the most experienced players in the two squads announced for the three-match T20 series and the ODI tri-series.

The group has represented Pakistan in all the T20 World Cups since 2021, the 50-over World Cup in 2023, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.

Salman Ali Agha has lost the T20 captaincy and also his spot in the format to Sahabzada Farhan who was named captain for the Asian Games in which Pakistan were beaten by India in the final.

Hesson and the selectors had announced a new-look young squad for the Asian Games and the head coach has been talking about giving more chances to young and new players but on Monday he was back to relying on the tried and tested players.

Young fast bowlers Akif Javed, Ali Reza and Ahmed Daniyal who were in the Asian Games squad have not been considered for the coming matches at home. Ironically, Akif and Ali Reza didn't get to play a single game in the Asian Games.

The selectors have made a total of six changes to the Asian Games squad also sidelining young all-rounder Saad Masood, batsman Haider Ali and Usman Khan for the T20 series against Sri Lanka.

There are also five changes in the ODI squad that last played at home against Australia in May this year with Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Ahmed Daniyal, Rohail Nazir and Shamyl Hussain dropped from the Australia series.

Pakistan T20 squad: Sahabzada Farhan (Capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Salman Mirza, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem.

Pakistan ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Capt), Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Baig, Sahabzada Farhan, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem.