The Pakistan selection committee, recently restructured, is poised to announce the squad for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia within the next week. This new committee includes notable figures such as Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Asad Shafique, and Hasan Cheema, who have been actively engaged in discussions to finalize the team composition.
The first ODI of the three-match series is scheduled to take place on November 4 in Melbourne. Following the conclusion of the third Test against England on October 28, it is anticipated that the Pakistan squad will depart for Australia shortly thereafter. As a result, the announcement of the ODI and T20I squad is expected to be made within the next two to three days.
In a significant development, reports indicate that wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is likely to be appointed as the new captain for Pakistan's white-ball formats. Rizwan is set to take over the captaincy from Babar Azam, who stepped down from the role earlier this month after discussions with the cricket board. This decision follows a series of meetings between the selection committee and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, during which white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten also provided his insights. According to a reliable source within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), "The third Test against England finishes on October 28, and the squad has to leave for Australia the next day, so the selectors would be announcing the white-ball squad by Sunday."
Rizwan's seniority, reliability as a player, and proven track record of leadership in domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) position him as the frontrunner for this crucial role. The source added that the selectors have been granted the authority to make decisions regarding the captaincy, and Javed, Ali, and Dar have already engaged in discussions with Rizwan to assess his willingness to assume the captaincy. However, the final decision will ultimately rest with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Furthermore, the selectors are expected to reinstate key players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah into the squad after they were rested for the last two Tests against England. This re-inclusion is vital for bolstering the team's strength ahead of a challenging tour against a formidable Australian side.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the official squad announcement, there is a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation among fans and analysts alike regarding how the newly appointed captain and the revamped team will perform in Australia, setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating series.
