Babar Azam makes comeback to Pakistan T20I set-up, Haris Rauf dropped

Published - 23 Oct 2025, 11:55 IST | Updated - 23 Oct 2025, 12:33 IST

Babar Azam has been called back to the T20I squad for the next couple of home assignments by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Babar, who is currently involved in the Test series against South Africa, last played a T20I in December 2024, and did not feature in the hyped Asia Cp 2025, where the Men in Green lost to India in the finals.

Pakistan will play a three-match series against South Africa starting later this month, and will also host next month's T20I tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. For the unversed, Babar was dropped from the T20I squad after the South Africa series last year due to concerns over his lower strike rates in the shortest format.

As far as the T20I squad of the multi-format series is concerned, Mohammad Rizwan did not find any place. Three players of the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris and Haris Rauf were excluded from the Asia Cup 2025 line-up.

Naseem Shah, Abdul Samad and Usman Khan have been called back into the 15-member T20I squad. The group will be captained by Salman Ali Agha. Rizwan, who was still sidelined from the T20I line-up, was called up to the ODI setup. The three ODIs will be played in November.

Speaking of the current match, Pakistan have been bowled out for 138 in their second innings to set the Proteas 68 to level the series. Babar top-scored with 50 off 87 in the second innings in a knock which comprised seven fours. This was his first fifty in Tests after going the past seven innings without one.

Ramiz Raja's shocking comment on Babar in Lahore Test

Pakistan's T20I squad for South Africa and T20I tri-series: Salman Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq

Pakistan's ODI squad for South Africa series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha