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LAHORE: All-rounder Shadab Khan returned to the fray as Pakistan named a refreshed 15-member squad for the upcoming T20Is against Sri Lanka, as part of their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the side, while Wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Mohammad Nafay has earned his maiden call-up to the national T20 side.
The squad also includes Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Naseem Shah.
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq complete the selection.
Interestingly, except for Shadab, none of the players currently featuring in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 — Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Hasan Ali were included in the side.
Meanwhile, Shadab, who last played for the Greens in June, has been added to boost the squad’s all-around strength ahead of the World Cup.
The 27-year-old was sidelined from the side after a recurring shoulder injury, which required surgery.
On the other hand, Nafay has been in the T20 circuit for the past couple of years and played 32 T20 matches, amassing 688 runs at a strike rate of 132.81.
The Pakistan team is scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka in phases on January 4 and 5.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will contest a three-match T20 International series, with all fixtures to be played in Dambulla on January 7, 9, and 11.
Salman Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq
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