Last edition’s runners-up Pakistan have announced their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 with Babar Azam leading them.
After being named their white-ball captain again earlier this year, Babar Azam will captain a formidable team.
The inclusion of bowler Haris Rauf in the squad following his injury recovery—he has not played for Pakistan since January—is a significant boost for the team.
“This is an extremely talented and balanced side that has a mixture of youth and experience,” the PCB expressed in its statement. “These players have been playing together for some time and look well-prepared and settled for next month’s event.
“This is an extremely talented and balanced side that has a mixture of youth and experience. These players have been playing together for some time and look well prepared and settled for next month’s event.
“Haris Rauf is fully fit and bowling well in the nets. It would have been nice if he had gotten an outing at Headingley, but we remain confident that he will continue to maintain an upward trajectory in the upcoming matches, as he will have an important role to play along with other strike bowlers in the T20 World Cup.”
Hasan Ali is the most noticeable absence from the T20 World Cup, although Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saim Ayub, and Usman Khan will all be playing for the first time.
In an effort to prepare for the massive event, Pakistan is now facing England in a bilateral series. The majority of the players in the bilateral series are scheduled to travel to the Caribbean and the USA for the T20 World Cup.
Along with co-hosts the United States, Canada, Ireland, and India, Pakistan is in Group A.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan