The squad selection has drawn attention for several key reasons, including the return of Shadab Khan to the T20 setup following shoulder surgery. Wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Muhammad Nafiq has also earned his maiden call-up to the national T20 squad.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will face off in three T20Is, all scheduled to be played in Dambulla on January 7, 9, and 11. The series is expected to act as a key trial for players aiming to secure a spot in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad.
The selected squad includes Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Muhammad Nafiq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq.
Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka without several senior players. Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf are unavailable as they are currently in Australia playing in the Big Bash League. Shaheen Afridi is also recovering from a knee injury.
With a new captain, fresh faces in the squad, and key players missing, the Sri Lanka T20 series is expected to play an important role in shaping Pakistan’s white-ball future ahead of the World Cup.
