LAHORE: Experienced wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been excluded from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) ODI squad for the forthcoming three-match home series against Australia, the board announced on Friday.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the 16-member squad, with a host of senior players, including Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Sufiyan Muqeem, making a comeback after missing the away ODI series against Bangladesh earlier this year.
Pakistan has also provided opportunities to uncapped players Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, and wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir, who have all been part of ODI squads but are yet to make their international debuts in the format.
Young wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori will stay in the squad after making his ODI debut in the Bangladesh series and will be one of the two specialist wicketkeepers along with Rohail.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Usman Khan was considered for the squad but was unable to participate due to illness.
Pakistan will also miss injured opening pair Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who are both undergoing rehabilitation under the PCB medical panel.
The squad will meet in Islamabad late tonight and start training from May 23 with the coaching staff led by head coach Mike Hesson.
Australia is set to arrive in Islamabad on May 23 ahead of the ODI series, which begins at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 30. “Two other matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and June 4.
Australia’s next ODI tour will be to Pakistan for the first time since 2022, when the hosts won the series 2-1. Pakistan also completed a 3-0 whitewash against Australia in a T20I series in Lahore earlier this year.
Pakistan ODI squad for Australia series
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir, Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufiyan Muqeem.
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